Telangana’s capital city is at the centre of a battle for prestige for a party, which until a few years ago was not even on the political spectrum of the city. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), which historically has been largely confined to the northern part of the state, is now training its guns to win over the capital region. What was historically a fight between Congress and TDP is now a four-way battle with TRS and BJP giving in their all to win over the Hyderabad region.
There are some crucial constituencies in the area. Maheshwaram, Rajendranagar, Medchal, Malkajgiri, Charminar, Chandrayangutta, Yakutpura, Snanth Nagar, Amberpet, Jubilee Hills. The old city area is mainly AIMIM’s bastion, and the party has a direct contest with TDP.
Interestingly, AIMIM has supported the idea of KCR coming back to power, thus signalling at supporting the TRS if it falls short on a few seats. For the TDP, it is evident that it is subtly playing the Andhra card to woo voters in this high-decibel election to Telangana Assembly. However, it is being extremely careful this time and trying to avoid being seen as an anti-Telangana party.
The Greater Hyderabad region has 27 Assembly seats (14 seats in Hyderabad and 13 seats in Ranga Reddy districts respectively). Out of the 27 seats, the AIMIM has sway over 7 seats in Hyderabad. Even though there is a tough fight in three Assembly seats, the AIMIM is fighting to retain all 7 seats.
The Mahakutami, TRS and BJP are locked in a fierce multi-corner contest in the remaining 20 seats.
In 2014 Assembly elections, the ruling TRS had won just two seats from the Greater Hyderabad region. The AIMIM had won seven seats, the BJP won five seats and 12 seats went to Congress and TDP.
The Mahakutami feels that if it can win maximum number of seats from Greater Hyderabad this time, it may reverse the fortunes of TRS. The TDP and the Congress are also using “brand Hyderabad” to remind the city people that it was the TDP and subsequent Congress governments that made Hyderabad a global city under Naidu and YSR. They accuse KCR of ignoring the development of Hyderabad completely. Naidu and Rahul Gandhi made it a point to attack him at every rally over “stalled” developments in and around Hyderabad under KCR’s rule.
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