HYDERABAD: It is likely to be a close fight in the IT hub of Telangana - Serilingampally, between TRS ex-MLA A Gandhi and Mahakutami’s TDP candidate Bhavya Anand Prasad. Thanks to rapid urbanisation, the area has a scattered demographic, and the 5-lakh-strong voter base in the semi-urban pockets of the constituency are spilt almost equally in supporting the two main candidates, rather parties, in the fray.
For many, especially in the semi-urban pockets of Miyapur, Chandanagar and Hafeezpet, KCR’s incentive-focused four-and-half year rule was good enough to give them another term. “I personally benefited from the old age pension scheme and my daughter who is disabled by the legs also got a pension. This is why we have decided to vote for him,” says Anantaiah K, an 80-year-old voter from Shanti Nagar in Chandanagar.
On the other hand, Mahakutami’s popularity in the constituency seems to be riding on Congressman and former MLA Bhikshapati Yadav’s popularity. “He at least showed his face here once in these 4 years unlike MLA Gandhi who turned up here only to ask for votes. We think he will be able to resolve the drainage issue in our village better,” opines Lalitha B of Maktha village which lies in the fringes of the upcoming high rises in Miyapur.
However, TRS’s MLA is sure of victory banking on the lack of popularity of the TDP MLA and the alleged infighting in Mahakutami power sharing. “Why did NTR form the TDP? It was formed in opposition to the Congress. So a true ideologue of TDP and Congress will never support this alliance for political benefit,” said A Gandhi.
Meanwhile, BJP’s previously nil presence in the area seems to be catching up slowly amongst the IT and upper-middle-class crowd, banking on BJP candidate G Yoganand’s clean ‘urban’ approach. The party has also started focusing on the urban voters by campaigning aggressively in the gated communities across the IT hub. “He has campaigned well in gated communities and has fixed plans for the constituency. His ‘clean’ profile has also gone well among the IT folks,” noted Ramanjeet Singh, an IT professional.