Mahbubnagar candidates seek votes claiming credit for T'ngana

Mahbubnagar, Apr 29: Union minister S Jaipal Reddy, who is fighting from this seat after more than a decade, is facing the challenge of two Reddys and all the three are trying to cash in on the

factor, claiming credit for having achieved statehood through their respective parties.

In the polls on Wednesday, the 73-year-old seasoned politician, who had won from here on Janata Party and Janata Dal tickets (1984 and 1998) will be aiming to wrest from Telangana Rashtra Samiti the seat represented by its chief K Chandrasekhar Rao or KCR as he is popular as. This time the TRS chief, who has handed over this Lok Sabha seat to A P Jithender Reddy, is fighting from Medak Parliamentary constituency as well as from Gajwel Assembly segment.

Interestingly, all the three main contenders- Jaipal Reddy, Nagam Janardhan Reddy of BJP and TRS' A P Jithender Reddy- have made statehood to Telangana a poll issue. Jaipal Reddy wants people of Mahbubnagar, having an electorate of 14.2 lakh, to pay their "gratitude" to Congress, for having granted statehood to Telangana, by electing him.

"I am at the fag end of my political career and have come back to serve my home district. I have played a key role in the formation of Telangana state," the veteran parliamentarian has been telling the electorate. He is also using the "homecoming" sentiment to win over the constituents saying, "I have come here to spend the rest of my political life."

The TRS candidate is also using the Telangana card. "What KCR has done or not done (for Mahbubnagar) as an MP is not the question. He has achieved statehood and that in itself will ensure my victory," Jithender Reddy claims.

However, TRS, apart from not enjoying much influence in Mahbubnagar, is also marred by infighting and desertion of leaders. Analysts says TRS won the seat in 2009 only because of the grand alliance with Congress, TDP and the Left. Nagam Reddy is a "strong man" in Mahbubnagar district politics who never tasted defeat in an election. He is contesting for Lok Sabha for the first time and feels his track record as an MLA, and as one who vigorously fought for the Telangana cause, will see him through.

"It is the BJP that enabled formation of Telangana state. Add to it the 'Modi wave' and my chances become brighter," Nagam says.

PTI