Secunderabad Lok Sabha Elections: BJP’s Reddy For The Battle Against BRS Turncoat In Telangana Seat
Secunderabad Lok Sabha Elections: G Kishan Reddy (BJP) will take on Danam Nagender (Congress) and T Padma Rao Goud (BRS) in this constituency
Secunderabad, one of the 17 Lok Sabha constituencies in Telangana, is largely seen as an urban seat. The Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency comprises the Assembly segments of Musheerabad (Bharat Rashtra Samithi), Amberpet (BRS), Khairatabad (BRS), Jubilee Hills (BRS), Sanathnagar (BRS), Nampally (AIMIM) and Secunderbad (BRS). The constituency will vote in phase four on May 13.
Current MP: G Kishan Reddy of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Key Candidates: G Kishan Reddy (BJP), Danam Nagender (Congress), T Padma Rao Goud (BRS)
POLITICAL DYNAMICS
BJP Faces Tough Three-Way Fight: The BJP has held Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency since 2014. In 2014, at the peak of the Modi wave, BJP’s Bandaru Dattatreya won by a significant margin of 2.54 lakh votes. In 2019, the saffron party managed to hold on to the seat, but its victory margin dropped dramatically to just about 62,000. As the party hopes for a hat-trick in 2024, the drop in its victory margin in 2019 remains a cause for concern.
The BJP has fielded Union Minister of Tourism and BJP state president G Kishan Reddy once again, and the party is largely believed to be well-placed to win, primarily due to the surging popularity of PM Modi. Also, there is a broad consensus among many voters that while the Congress or even the BRS is a decent choice, this is a national election to strengthen PM Modi’s hand at the Centre.
Besides, there is also widespread appreciation for the many schemes and initiatives of the Modi government, apart from its focus on development and national security. The impact of BJP’s Hindutva politics is pronounced, given the constituency’s urban makeup and diverse demography. A large chunk of voters are migrants from North India and form a rock-solid support base of the BJP. The party also enjoys the support of the middle and upper middle class. Besides, in recent years, the party has also made significant inroads among backward castes. Religious polarisation among the electorate is set to play a favourable role for the BJP in this constituency.
Being the state BJP president, Reddy has not been able to dedicate much time to Secunderabad as he has also been campaigning across the state.
There is an anti-incumbency sentiment against Reddy, but it is not expected to hurt the BJP’s prospects substantially. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have also campaigned here.
Secunderabad is also home to people from states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, among others, and the BJP has fielded leaders like Suresh Gopi and Tamilisai Sounderarajan to woo these linguistic groups.
BRS To Play Spoilsport? Complicating the fight for the BJP is the notion that the BRS is gaining ground here. Of the seven Assembly segments under Secunderabad, the BRS stamped its authority on six, while one went to the AIMIM last year.
The BRS has also fielded a heavyweight from the seat. Padma Rao Goud was first elected to the Assembly in 2004, and later in 2014, 2018 and 2023. He was the Minister for Excise and Sports and Youth Services during 2014-18 and was Deputy Speaker of the Assembly from 2018 to 2023. Now, he has been tasked by BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao to unseat the BJP from Secunderabad. The pink party has made development and protecting the interests of Telangana in parliament its primary poll planks.
BRS working president and former IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao has been urging voters to elect 10-12 BRS candidates as Members of Parliament in the ensuing election to stop the exodus of investments from Hyderabad. Meanwhile, the party is also reminding voters of the work it has done for Hyderabad-Secunderabad during its stint in power.
The BRS is also attacking Reddy. It has been trying to convert the fight in Secunderabad into one focussed on local issues, which could give it an upper hand against the BJP. However, the strategy does not seem to be working on the ground.
There are some voices on the ground who speak about the BRS cutting into the BJP’s voter base and denting it substantially this time around. However, this may open the doors for the Congress to win Secunderabad. The fact that goodwill for the BRS is on the rise in several seats of Telangana may not deliver immediate results, but it is a trend to watch out for.
Congress’s Fate Hangs in the Balance: While the Congress should have had the edge across Telangana, given how it stormed to power by winning the greatest number of seats in the state Assembly only six months ago, that does not appear to be the case for the Lok Sabha polls. The party is already facing a degree of anti-incumbency.
Being an urban constituency in the Hyderabad region, the Congress has set its sights on Secunderabad. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is believed to have set the mission of defeating the BJP and BRS here. The party has fielded Danam Nagender, a sitting BRS MLA from Khairatabad.
Nagender is seen as a political turncoat who quit the BRS, despite being elected by the people of Khairatabad Assembly six months ago. As such, he is largely seen as a BRS man who does not have the capability to drum up exclusive pro-Congress votes. The Congress is largely relying on the minority Muslim and Christian votes, while also hoping that the SCs and some backward classes hop on to its bandwagon. However, in a three-way fight, this may not be a viable strategy.
Voters have already begun complaining against the Congress government of the state, claiming that while the party promised a lot, a majority of those promises remain unfulfilled.
The Congress and Nagender are largely relying on the anti-incumbency against Reddy. However, in the face of what is looking like a Modi wave in Telangana, this may not be the best strategy. Besides, the Congress is facing a three-way fight, in which, ground inputs suggest, it is somehow focussing on defeating the BRS. This, despite the fact that the BJP has an edge in the constituency. Perhaps, CM Reddy is more concerned about the BRS consolidating its position in Secunderabad with a Lok Sabha win, which could spell trouble for the Congress on a state level.
KEY ISSUES
Agnipath Scheme: There have been massive protests in Secunderabad since the Agnipath scheme was announced by the government in 2022. The violence-hit region had to suspend its railway services as caution. During the protests, many were injured and one person died. The Agniveer scheme has been contentious and controversial across the nation. While the protests have died down, it is being raised as an issue against the BJP in the Centre and will have an impact on the elections.
Waterlogging: Waterlogging during the monsoon paralyses the city. Pothole-ridden roads become death traps for commuters, while showcasing the poor sewage system. It also leads to areas submerging underwater and turning into breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes.
Road Connectivity: Secunderabad’s roads and public infrastructure are at their limit, struggling to cope with the city’s burgeoning population and ever-increasing number of cars. Locals often find themselves stuck in traffic jams as the inadequate public transport system leaves them with little choice, but to rely on their own vehicles. While talks of expanding the internal road network have surfaced, concrete action remains elusive. Adding to the woes, road repairs are neglected, leaving many streets in a state of disrepair, especially after heavy rain. Even basic maintenance like patching up roads after drainage work seems to fall by the wayside.
Pollution: Secunderabad faces significant challenges with noise, air and water pollution. The Musi River, historically important to the city, has become heavily polluted with sewage and industrial waste. Air pollution levels are also a concern, with some areas experiencing high pollution readings. Residents have reported unpleasant odors and air quality issues.
Traffic snarls: Secunderabad is grappling with the challenges of increasing congestion and informal settlements. The influx of migrants seeking opportunities has led to the growth of slums throughout the old city, putting a strain on the existing infrastructure and resources. Illegal encroachment on public land further exacerbates the problem, hindering the delivery of essential government services. The Musi River, already burdened by pollution, also faces pressure from encroachment, with numerous structures of various sizes appearing along its banks.
Unemployment: The lack of job opportunities has become a pressing concern in Secunderabad, particularly among young people. With Telangana facing a high unemployment rate, many residents of Secunderabad are frustrated by the limited prospects in the region. Repeated postponements of government job recruitment drives have further compounded the issue. As a result, some educated youth who had migrated to the capital city are returning to their villages, seeking alternative livelihoods in agriculture and livestock rearing.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Total Voters: 19,68,276
Social Composition
SC: 161,399 (8.2%)
ST: 27,556 (1.6%)
Geographical Composition
Urban Voters: 1,968,276 (100%)
Rural Voters: 0
Religious Composition
Hindu: 72.6
Muslim: 27.4%
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
- Hyderabad Regional Ring Road: The Regional Ring Road (RRR) project proposes a 340-kilometer, four-lane access-controlled expressway around Hyderabad, encompassing towns like Sangareddy, Toopran, Choutuppal, Amangal and Shankarpally. Included in the Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-1 by the National Highways Authority of India, the RRR aims to improve connectivity between districts in Telangana and link various National Highways, including NH 65, NH 44, NH 163, and NH 765. It will be constructed at a cost of Rs 17,000 crore.
- Nagpur-Vijayawada Expressway: The Nagpur-Vijayawada Expressway, currently under construction, is a 405-kilometer access-controlled expressway that will link Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh with Nagpur, in Maharashtra. This project is part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I program and is being developed by the NHAI with an estimated budget of Rs. 14,666 crore.
- Hyderabad Indore Expressway: A new expressway is being constructed to connect Hyderabad in Telangana with Indore in Madhya Pradesh. This 713-kilometer, four-lane roadway will be partially access-controlled and is part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase I program. The NHAI is responsible for the development of this project, which aims to improve connectivity and transportation efficiency between the two major cities. Reports suggest that the project is expected to be constructed by 2025.
- Secunderabad Railway Station: The ongoing redevelopment of the Secunderabad Railway Station aims to address increasing passenger volume and contribute to the economic growth of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The project is anticipated to be finished by October 2025. The upgradation work of Secunderabad Railway Station is being undertaken as part of ‘Major Upgradation of Railway Stations’ by the Ministry of Railways at a cost of nearly Rs 720 crore.
- Railway Infrastructure: A new MMTS phase connecting various city sections was initiated, along with the doubling and electrification of the Secunderabad-Mahbubnagar line for improved capacity and efficiency. Sections of this line, including stretches between Umdanagar and Shadnagar, and Gollapalli and Alair, reached completion, with others nearing their final stages. Additionally, the Secunderabad-Falaknuma section saw electrification efforts.
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