A lot of heat is being generated in the campaign in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections with the BJP and the TRS leaders vying with one another in the game of one-upmanship. Union Minister for Information, Prakash Javadekar, was in Hyderabad to release the BJP’s manifesto in the form of a chargesheet. Union Home Minister Amit Saha, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BJP national president J.P. Nadda are slated to visit Hyderabad for campaigning. The BJP is hopeful of repeating Dubbaka in GHMC elections.
Surgical strike on old city : Sanjay
TBJP president Bandi Sanjay has created sensation when he said the BJP soon after victory in GHMC elections would conduct surgical strikes on the old city of Hyderabad. He alleged that Pakistanis and Rohingyas are voting in the old city. TRS and MIM together have been cheating the people of Hyderabad, he alleged. Muralidhar Rao, national leader of the BJP, said the Majlis advocated Hyderabad joining in Pakistan in 1948 and the timely action by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel has saved the situation. He said BJP has been winning the Delhi Municipal elections for 30 years but there were no communal rites, Muralidhar said in a media conference.
Also Read: Surgical strike on Old City: Bandi Sanjay
KCR moves pawns tactically
Chief Minister K. Chadrasekhar Raom(KCR) has showered many promises when he released the TRS manifesto on Monday. The manifesto promised to give drinking water free of cost to the tune of 20 thousand litres per month for a family. He announced many sops to micro, small and medium industries, hair salons etc. KCR has not been addressing election meetings directly, but has been contributing sufficiently with his non-election speeches and inclusive statements. He tried to endear the people working in Telugu film industry by promising to help reopen the industry fully. He has promised all help to tide over losses caused by the pandemic. He assured them that their problems and solutions will be included in party’s manifesto. The film and TV industry employs about 60 thousand people. KCR has been attacking the BJP and the Central government.
Also Read: GHMC survey: Neck and neck between TRS, BJP
The campaign for the ruling TRS is spearheaded by the working president of the party K. Taraka Rama Rao (KTR), supported by Finance Minister T. Harish Rao and Minister Talasani Srinivasa Yadav, who hails from the city and represents BC community.
Star campaigners from BJP
The BJP campaign is led by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G. Kishan Reddy who represents Secuderabad Lok Sabha constituency which is part of GHMC. TBJP president Bandi Sanjay, party’s national vice-president D.K. Aruna, National BC Morcha president Dr. Lakshman and Nizamabad MP Dharmapuri Arvind have been participating in the campaign full time. Famous actor Vijaya Shanti, who is in Congress but almost left the party to join the BJP was found canvassing for the BJP candidates mounting attack against the TRS.
Also Read: GHMC Polls: Politics of polarization will not help
Uttam assisted by Revant
The Congress campaign is run by TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy who is ably assisted by Revanth Reddy whose parliamentary constituency Malkajgiri is part of the GHMC. Known for his dynamism and gift of the gab, Revant Reddy has his own following. He has been working overtime to get the party candidates elected at least in the wards falling in his Lok Sabha constituency. Uttam Kumar Reddy has been finding it difficult to keep his flock together with the TRS and the BJP trying their best to lure the Congress leaders.
KTR mounts blistering attack against BJP
Sunday was a hectic day. KTR had answered the allegations made by the BJP leaders while releasing the party’s manifesto. He accused the BJP leaders of disturbing communal harmony for the sake of elections. He termed their activity as a sin. “Elections will come and go, but the culture that a party promotes is what matters,” said KTR who is also the minister of municipal administration. Hitting back at the BJP over the chargesheet, the minister accused the national party of planning to divide people. “Why should a chargesheet be filed against TRS? Is it for ensuring uninterrupted power supply, problem-free drinking water supply, improving a host of other civic amenities, making Hyderabad the safest city in the country by maintaining law and order or getting investments into the State?” KTR asked.
“If one has to file a chargesheet, it should be done against the BJP by 132 crore people for not giving 2 crore jobs every year for the last six years as promised by the party and for not depositing Rs. 15 lakh in the bank accountrs of every poor family as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the TRS working president said.
Delhi leaders for galli elections: Harish Rao
Finance Minister Harish Rao mocked at the Delhi BJP leaders for visiting Hyderabad to campaign in local body elections. “Delhi leaders are here to canvass in galli elections,” he commented. “We have to prepare a chargesheet against BJP which is questioning the existence of Telangana. The BJP government at the Centre did not respond when floods had hit Hyderabad. Why must the people vote for the party,” Harish questioned.
Ask the govt. about 2 bed-room houses: Kishan Reddy
On the part of the BJP, Union minister Kishan Reddy asked the people to question the TRS party and its government for not giving Two bed-room houses as promised in the 2016 GHMC election manifesto. “That was the single major issue on which the TRS was voted to power in GHMC elections last time. It assured 2-bedroom houses to the poor and private sector employees. There are about 30 lakh applications pending with the government and people should ponder if the housing programme will materialize during KCR’s lifetime,” Kishan Reddy commented.
“With what face they are seeking another mandate now after failing to construct two-bedroom houses and destroying brand image of the State capital during the recent floods,” he asked.
Vote for TRS is a vote for MIM
The main allegation the BJP leaders have been making against the ruling party and it ally MIM is on the relationship between them. Javadekar said ‘A vote for TRS is a vote for AIMIM.’ Vijaya Shanti spoke about it saying that the two parties are Siamese twins that cannot be separated. Although KTR made it clear that there is no alliance between TRS and AIMIM and the Majlis leader Assaduddin Owaisi also made a similar statement that there is no pact between his party and the TRS, the repeated allegations by the BJP leaders are slowly sinking into the minds of the people. “The BJP does not see Majlis as the sole representatives of the Muslims as it has been harassing many members from the minority community for land grabbing, resorting to rough tactics and offering support to anti-national elements,” said Kishan Reddy.
Also Read: GHMC Polls: BJP Mayor or AIMIM Mayor? Decide for yourself, Javdekar
Internal squabbles, a headache for BJP
There was ruckus at BJP central office over ticket denial. Sitting MLA T. Raja Singh, known for his aggressive nature, was unhappy that persons who worked for his victory and whom he had promised tickets have been denied the opportunity to contest. His supporters had attacked a dalit leader Omprakash and tore his shirt. Omprakash’s wife Surekha was the official candidate of the party and he went to the party head office at Nampally along with his wife to collect the B-form. Raja Singh had recommended the ticket to his follower Anitha. Her husband Shailender Yadav (Ramu) stormed the party office with his supporters. They tried to snatch the B-form from Omprakash and Surekha. Party leaders later tried to pacify Raja Singh’s supporters.
Also Read: GHMC Polls: Can BJP win BC vote bank?
Uttam is a worried man
The TPCC president is a worried man since many leaders from his party had already left and joined the TRS and the BJP over the months after 2018 elections. Some of the Congress leaders did not leave the party but have been silently lending their support to candidates fielded by other parties. Reddy criticized the TRS government for not going to the rescue of the flood-affected poor people. He said the Central government had not given a rupee for the flood victims. “It is the Congress party which made Hyderabad city a destination for investments and business houses. It was during the Congress rule that the city got metro rail, PV Express way, international airport at Shamshabad and Krishna water to the twin cities. He said the Muslims got reservations because of the Congress party.
Revant challenges Javadekar
TRS and BJP are mixing like floods and mud, accused MP Revant Reddy, MP and PCC working president. “Javadekar who came from Delhi to release the BJP chargesheet should leave Hyderabad only after answering the chargesheet to be released by the Congress against the BJP,” challenged Revant Reddy. PCC working president Kusum Kumar, former MP Ponnam Prabhakar, party general secretary Madhu Yaski were with Uttam when he spoke to the media persons. The Congress party released its manifesto.
Also Read: GHMC Polls: BJP releases third and fourth list
TDP releases manifesto
The TDP manifesto was released by Kambhampati Ramamohan Rao, Ravula Chandrasekhara Reddy, L. Ramana and Arvinda Kumar Goud at NTR Bhavan on Monday. The party said it would work for ‘Happy Hyderabad.’ The party has promised to annul LRS and reduce wealth tax. It promised free drinking water to the poor and pump connection to every household besides many other sops.
The rebel trouble is bothering all the parties. The problem is more acute in the BJP as there was more demand for the party tickets. However, the informal surveys conducted by many organizations show BJP with an edge over the TRS at many places. The saffron party is sure to improve its performance but the exact tally may fall short of its ambition.
Also Read: GHMC Polls: BJP releases second list
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