The Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency, with 1,893,647 voters, is currently represented by G Kishan Reddy, who is not only a Union minister but also the president of Telangana’s BJP unit.
In the fray for 2024, Reddy will face Congress’s Danam Nagender and BRS’s T Padma Rao Goud, who is currently the second deputy legislative speaker of the Telangana Assembly. The seat will generate much interest not only due to the high-profile candidates, but also due to the row over Nagender joining Congress. He won the Khairatabad seat in the recent assembly polls on a BRS ticket, but jumped later to Congress to contest from Secunderabad.
The Secunderabad parliamentary seat comprises the assembly constituencies of Musheerabad, Amberpet, Khairatabad, Jubilee Hills, Sanathnagar, Nampally, and Secunderabad.
Voter Speak
Asked about the main issues in Secunderabad, K Srinivas Rao, who had contested from the assembly seat twice (once from Ambedkar National Congress Party and as an Independent the second time), said: “There are many low-income and BPL families in areas like Lalapet, Tukaramgate, Addagutta etc. Political parties are concentrating on giving freebies to win votes, but no one suggests a way in which these families can get empowered to earn a livelihood. There is also a long-standing issue between defence personnel in Secunderabad Cantonment Board and civilians over access to roads. The tussle has been going on for years. While the personnel say that civilians might pose security risks in Army areas, the common man suffers due to long commute. Why don’t they construct alternative roads to address the issue?”
Talking about the most popular candidates this year, Durga Rao, a resident of West Marredpally, said: “Padma Rao Goud is a local and he is popular among voters. Kishan Reddy, who won the seat in 2019, is relatively new. Nagender does not have credibility as he changes parties frequently. While the local factor works in favour of Padma Rao, Reddy might have an edge in this parliament seat due to the presence of non-Telugu, trader communities like Marwaris and Gujaratis. It also has a sizeable population from North India that votes for BJP. They are more inclined to vote for the Hindutva sentiment. So, we are expecting a tough fight between Reddy and Goud.”
Rao, discussing issues being faced by voters, said: “The Secunderabad railway station is one of the most important junctions not only in the city, but also in the state. Over the years, there has been no development there and the station remains congested. The Union government has launched plans for a makeover, but implementation will take time.
“While the population has increased exponentially in Secunderabad Cantonment area, there has hardly been any infrastructure development. In order to go to areas like AS Rao Nagar, Kapra and Kushaiguda, one has to go through Secunderabad. No new roads have been built to access these areas. Besides these, the drainage system is very old and roads get flooded every year. We also do not have any large lung spaces in Secunderabad like Hyderabad has public gardens.”
Another local, Shaikh Nayeemuddin from Khairatabad, said he would vote for Nagender. “It will increase the chances of Congress forming the government at the Centre. The BJP government has not fulfilled any of its poll promises. They arrested a sitting chief minister against rules and are arresting everyone who goes against them. On the other hand, tainted politicians begin on a clean slate after joining BJP. We want this to change.”
Dr Ramachandra Reddy, who lives in Secunderabad, is contemplating going for the NOTA option. “I voted for Reddy last time, but I do not see much improvement in the constituency. Nothing much has been done since 2019. The tussle between the Cantonment Board and civilians over roads persists. Complaints from residents have fallen on deaf ears. I don’t know much about Nagender and if he is conversant with our issues. Goud has corruption charges against him. Maybe NOTA is the best option,” he says.
Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
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