- Majority voters decided whom to vote for
- Anti-incumbency is clearly witnessed for TRS
- Sympathy, caste factors favour Eatala
- Liquor, money thrown like water by both parties
- Pre-poll surveys predicts Eatala has edge
Huzurabad: By-poll for Huzurabad will take place on October 30th and counting on November 2nd and surely it will be advance Diwali dhamaka for either TRS or BJP. Said to be one of the costliest elections in India and first of its kind in Telangana, the by-poll was necessitated after former TRS Minister Eatala Rajender resigned for party on allegation of land grabbing by his family.
42 candidates are in the fray including 31 independent candidates, but the bitter fight is locked between TRS and BJP which is said to be semi-final for 2023 elections.
TRS uses all its cards
Result is crucial for ruling party and it’s Chief. It is a must win for it. TRS boss is using all his efforts leaving no chance for opposition. First he picked up Kaushik reddy from Congress, then L.Ramana from TDP and lastly Dalit Bandhu Scheme was thrown in. It picked up backward class student leader Gellu Srinivas Yadav as its candidate and TRS is confident that welfare schemes implemented for both OBC and BC communities will benefit them. Trouble shooter Harish Rao is continuously campaigning for ruling party, attacking both centre and Rajender. Hike in petrol, diesel, LPG gas, are due to BJP says Harish and as a last ditch effort, Minister K. Taraka Rama Rao pitched in with allegation that congress and BJP had a secret alliance to defeat TRS.
Eatala and BJP, how much its working?
BJP leaders are joining Eatala campaign everyday and running parallel aggressive campaign on TRS. BJP which got lesser votes than NOTA in 2018 elections is heavily banking on Rajender’s popularity rather than its vote bank. It is clearly visible in Huzurabad constituency that Rajender enjoys his personal charisma rather than political party, BJP. Saffron party which came out with sensational victory by stunning TRS in Dubbaka by-election is hoping the same result here. Win for Rajender will give chance to dissidents to raise voice against K. Chandrasekhar Rao, feels BJP, which is trying to emerge as only alternative for TRS in state.
Litmus test for TPCC Chief Revanth
This is the first election after Revanth took charge as TPCC President. Revanth announced Balmur Venkat as Congress candidate after a long delay. Is this a game-plan by the party or there no candidate prepared to contest is not known. Revanth, who is enjoying huge crowds during protests by party against TRS, is waiting for an opportunity to wage a war on KCR. If the result is against TRS, it would be deemed a plus for Congress and Revanth. But right now, Congress is in third place as per surveys.
What Pre-poll surveys predict?
According to Arnav Reddy, political analyst, BJP has clear edge over TRS. The survey which was conducted between 17th to 22nd October, says that BJP will secure 52% votes and TRS 40% and BJP will win with a margin of 20 to 22000 votes. Another finding by Inside Election, BJP will secure 46 to 52% votes and TRS with 35 to 41% votes.
There is clear cut split in votes with Congress vote’s maximum going towards BJP rather than TRS. Congress party is just vote cutter rather than giving a fight in the elections and it will end up with 5% vote share as per pre poll surveys.
Political analysts say that a win for TRS will further strengthen the hands of KCR and if Eatala wins, it will pave way for Saffron surge ahead of 2023 elections. Will TRS get closer as the day progresses or will Eatala maintain his vote bank up to October 30th? Anything is possible between now and the d-day, the 30th.
