Chief Minister and Pradesh Congress Committee president A Revanth Reddy launched a high octane battle to win prestigious Nizamabad Lok Sabha seat for his party. Here, he wants to wrest the seat from sitting BJP MP Dharmapuri Arvind who is retain it for a second term. Congress has fielded former and MLC Tadiparthy Jeevan Reddy while BRS is testing its luck through its candidate, former MLA Bajireddy Goverdhan.
A little over 17 lakh voters are expected to cast their franchise in the polls for which the official machinery made all arrangements. The constituency has seven Assembly segments-five Nizamabad urban, Nizamabad rural, Armoor, Balkonda and Bodhan segments in Nizamabad district while Jagityal and Korutla f in Jagityal district.
Despite more than 20 other candidates, mostly, independents are in the fray main contest is among the nominees of the three major political parties. The trio are making all out efforts while leaving no stone unturned to win the election.
What works for the candidates?
Arvind who is known for his caustic remarks in political circles and media is seeking reelection showing his achievements of national turmeric board and rail over bridge at Madhav Nagar railway crossing on Nizamabad-Hyderabad road besides performance of Modi led BJP Government at the Centre in the last ten years.
He is in a strong belief that the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya followed by the increase in sentiment of Hindutva which has been strong ever since Modi assumed the office of the Prime Minister will see him retain the seat.
However, some cadres in the party are unhappy with the brusque attitude and sharp tongue of Arvind. He has also got a dubious record of being unavailable to the party workers. That is likely to work against him to some extent.
Congress which fielded T. Jeevan Reddy, veteran of several electoral battles, in the eleventh hour after considering several names. Started on sluggish gear the 75 year old Jeevan Reddy picked up tremendously with the days passed and moving head on head with Arvind in the campaign.
His vast experience, the ruling party’s support, it’s popular schemes are his plus points. Congress party carried on its campaign largely on the failures of Arvind in keeping his promises. It kept it’s hopes on Muslim and Christian minority vote bank that could be around 3.25 lakhs. If heavy polling of votes is recorded among the religious minorities it may tilt the balance in favour of Congress here.
Complacency and smugness which naturally persists party cadres and leaders, lack of coordination and cooperation among them and week poll management are haunting the party. In the last two three days Congress considerably improved its position following Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s promise of waiving two lakh agriculture loan and his warning to leaders to work hard.
BRS tries to recover  assembly defeat
The BRS which experienced a severe blow in the Assembly elections pitted Govardhan who has very good connections with masses. A four time MLA Govardhan, in fact, plunged into campaign earlier than his opponents. The electoral debacle did not blunt his and his party spirit. Another plus point for him is that his party has three MLAs-Balkonda, Korutla and Jagityal while the ruling Congress and BJP has two each.
BRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao did a road show trying to enthuse party workers. The three BRS MLAs are striving hard for his victory. But, estrangent of a myriad leaders and workers has it’s bearing on the party prospects.
Since Govardhan and Arvind belong to backward Munnurukapu community which is dominant in the constituency the community votes likely to split between the two.
Except Union Home Minister Amit Shah no national political figure came for the campaign on behalf of any major political party in the ongoing hustings. Rahul Gandhi who addressed a rally at Nirmal didn’t come to Nizamabad. However, CM Revanth Reddy held a road show at Armoor and Nizamabad city on Wednesday.
AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi is scheduled to address a public meeting at Kamareddy falling in Zaheerabad LS constituency tomorrow. With just two days left for polls leaders are busy meeting community leaders and professional bodies. They are also busy chalking out last hour strategies.