Opposition Congress, TDP and BJP fear that the aggressive posture adopted by the ruling TRS in Telangana could be an indication that it has tinkered their poll prospects by making the divisions in which they are strong to go for reserved category. On the other TRS has stepped up its campaign to woo Seemandhra voters living in Hyderabad with its Mission – 100.
Hyderabad: The aggressive posture of the ruling TRS party is creating doubts in the minds of opposition parties getting ready to face the ensuing Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections. The declaration of reservations in the divisions of the GHMC is yet to be announced. These are the two factors which have been causing sleepless nights to the opposition parties.
Following the NAMO political strategy adopted by the BJP during the last general elections, the TRS has announced its Mission-100 project for the GHMC elections. This means the pink party which is going alone in the elections wanted to win 100 out of 150 divisions of the GHMC on its own.
This decision makes even the MIM which had for quite some time expecting for a pre-poll alliance with the ruling TRS has to face the TRS candidates on its home turf in the old city and in several divisions predominantly having minority voters.
On the other, the TRS continuing with its Project Akarsha, opening its doors to the leaders, both big and small to get it into its fold.
Senior party leaders both from the Congress and TDP says that the strategy of the ruling party towards the Congress, TDP and BJP was to see that they lost every leader worth the name. In the case of Congress and TDP, the TRS has specifically focused on those divisions where the TDP and Congress have strong party cadre. Also, it is trying hard to lure strong candidates that the TDP and Congress possible to field in the elections.
“This way, the TRS wanted to ensure that the opposition party’s loose their strong cadre and strong candidates before the elections, so that, it would make it easy for it to win even in the divisions where the TDP and Congress are stronger,” said a TRS leader from the Kukatpally.
While ups and downs of these kinds are routine for any political parties, what the Congress, TDP and BJP are worrying about is that the ruling party could resort to some kind of foul play in the reservation in the divisions that are expected to be announced anytime on January 4th or 5th.
The aggressive posture of the ruling party that it would hoist the pink flag over Hyderabad could be an indication, that where the opposition parties are stronger, such divisions might have been put under reserved category. If this is the case, then, the opposition parties will have to scout for the new faces. And this situation would give an opportunity to the ruling party to position itself in a comfortable zone in terms of winning the divisions.
Meanwhile, the TRS party apart from inviting the second rung of leaders from different divisions within the GHMC areas has stepped up its campaign to attract the voters from Seemandhra living in Hyderabad.
TRS party is reportedly hoping that the unilateral decision of the ruling TDP in Andhra Pradesh on the local status has an adverse affect on the Seemandhra people in Hyderabad. Earlier, the Andhra Pradesh cabinet had requested the Centre to announce June 2017 as the cut-off date for anyone to claim local status in that state. It means those who wanted to claim local status in Andhra Pradesh will have to relocate before June 2017 to that state.
This decision did not go down well with the Seemandhra people in Hyderabad. Because, people can not go back to AP as there were no opportunities, both in the government and private sectors. Also, questions were raised against the AP’s decision, as to why it was in a hurry on the issue when Hyderabad remains as a joint capital for another eight years?
Also, people from Krishna, Guntur and several other districts of Andhra Pradesh living in Hyderabad have their lands back in that state. And, when the people had gone to claim their due under the state government’s Farmers Debit Redemption Scheme of waiving agriculture loans, they were denied. The reason cited was that since they live in Hyderabad, they belong to Telangana and not to Andhra Pradesh.
The TRS considering these, and few other issues which had caused considerable disappointment among the Seemandhra people towards the TDP could be turned into its gain in the ensuing GHMC elections. It was for this reason that the TRS Minister KTR has stepped up his campaign to attract the voters of the Seemandhra people living in Hyderabad, assuring that the TRS government would protect their interests.
Notifications for the GHMC elections are expected by January 7th, and the elections could be held between January 23 to 25.
