HYDERABAD: Voters in Khairatabad —which is considered a VVIP segment — seem content and have no major issues to report in their area except problems with the drainage system. The mood seems to be largely in favour of TRS pick Danam Nagender who is considered as “local man who can get things done”.
Be it his rags-to-riches career graph, or the welfare schemes his party has announced for different sections of people, multiple factors seem to be converging in the favour of Nagender, who recently switched camps from Congress. “Danam has risen from the lowest rungs of the society... And, he has experience managing things, so I trust him,” says tailor B Raju, who stays near Bada Ganesh.
“Moreover, Danam is our local lad, unlike Congress’ Dasoju Sravan Kumar who is not even a recognisable face,” says Raju. In 2014, Danam was the runner-up with a 22.65 per cent vote share. “I don’t know much about the candidate but we trust KCR and his policies,” says K Paddu, who resides in Gowrishanker Nagar, a basti in Banjara Hills.
“It is because of his that my aged parents get a pension... my daughter gets menstrual hygiene kits... he’s done a lot for women. What did Congress or BJP ever give?” asks Paddu. The main competitor for Danam is Dasoju Sravan, who enjoys the support of Congress and TDP loyalists, those like Syed Yunus.
“I will always be a loyal supporter of the Gandhi family,” says Yunus. “They have governed us for so many years, I want them to come back to power and continue till I die,” says Yunus. Bastis of Khairatabad has no dearth of developmental issues. Here, the Congress promise to give 6 free LPG cylinders every year to poor families has struck a chord.
“Elections will come and go and nobody will solve the local issues. The only hope is to get some freebies and schemes. This free gas cylinder scheme will save us some money,” says Mohammed Zakir a voter. Incumbent BJP MLA Ram Chandra Reddy seems to be lagging far behind with anti-incumbency factor playing out against him heavily.
Even in areas like MS Maqta -- where he got some work done for the shifting of high-tension wires— many are not keen on voting for him again. “BJP did nothing. For the last four years, we have been hearing that works are being carried out to shift the high-tension wires. But till date, they continue to run above our heads, injuring our children,” says Uma Parcha a resident of Ms Maqta.
To add to this, the constituency also has its own share of disenchantment with politics and discontent with the leaders. “Both the leaders are so corrupt. Danam Nagender had shifted parties just this year and Congress did not give the opportunity to the local leaders here, so I will vote for NOTA or not vote at all,” added Sai Kumar of Uday Nagar.
Divided over votes
Danam is our local lad, unlike Congress’ Dasoju Sravan Kumar who is not even a recognisable face, says Raju, a voter
Congress has governed us for so many years, I want them to come back to power, says Syed Yunus, a voter
Both the leaders are corrupt. So I will vote for NOTA or not vote at all, says Sai Kumar, a resident of Uday Nagar