Medak voters in Catch-22 situation

The voter in Medak is facing a big dilemma on his decision to vote. On the one hand former Assembly speaker and Congress leader P Ramachandra Reddy is contesting from Medak Lok Sabha constituency on a BJP ticket supported by the ruling Telugu Desam Party.

On the other hand A Narendra, who represented this constituency in the dissolved Lok Sabha as a BJP MP is contesting this time on a TRS ticket supported by Congress party.

Though technically a direct fight, the entire poll scenario in the constituency is very difficult to comprehend. Matters became more difficult for the voter when comments like "though I quit the BJP for the Telangana cause I still believe in RSS ideology" and "I never voted for the Congress party" have been allegedly made by TRS candidate Narendra.

About one-and-half lakh Muslim voters and approximately 70,000 Christian voters who could play a decisive role in the elections are apparently in a Catch-22 situation. Many of them are not being able to distinguish between the BJP and the TRS candidate now.

The damage has not been contained fully even as Narendra disowned his statements in a haste. And for those who do not want to vote for either of these two candidates, there is no alternative, except a week BSP candidate.

Combined with this, the personal appeal of Narendra also seems to be on the wane in this constituency for various reasons. There seems to be a considerable resentment against him among the second rung leaders of both TRS and Congress especially for his alleged mishandling of MP funds for local development.

Adding to this, there are Congress party rebels in Sangareddy, Medak, Yellareddy Assembly segments apart from his own party rebels in Kamareddy under Medak Lok Sabha constituency.

The TRS is contesting only in three out of the seven Assembly segments in the Medak Lok Sabha jurisdiction, which explains the effect the rebel factor is going to have on the prospects of Narendra. Yet as a candidate, his BC tag seems to be more powerful than Ramachandra Reddy as the backward classes make a big chunk out of the total 12 lakh voters in the constituency.

Though the TRS is riding high in Assembly segments like Ramayampet, the TRS meetings being attended by its president K Chandrasekhar Rao in Yellareddy and elsewhere on 13 April evoked poor response.

In Medak district, the Congress and TRS are contesting an equal number of assembly segments, with each party contesting in five segments. The TDP is contesting nine out of the 10 Assembly segments.

In the last elections, TDP won only four seats while its ally BJP won one seat. Congress also won four seats, the sole exception being Siddipet which was retained by TRS president K Chandrashekhar Rao. Trouble is clearly brewing for the TDP in Andole from where labour minister P Babumohan is contesting.

Rebels in the TDP are seen to be actively trying to sabotage his prospects. The fact that in the 1999 elections Babumohan had won with a margin of just 500 votes margin is indicative of his precarious position.

Observers say that Gajwel, Narsapur, Zaheerabad are sure seats from where the Congress party will win, with Narayankhed, Andole and also swinging its way in the present circumstances.

The TRS seems to be in an advantageous position in Siddipet and Ramayampet segments. Except the Medak Assembly segment, where there is a triangle fight with a strong Congress rebel in the fray, Telugu Desam candidates in all the other segments are said to be facing a stiff fight from their rivals.