Local vs outsider tag set to haunt candidates in erstwhile Nizamabad district

In Nizamabad/Kamareddy districts, locals vs. 'outsiders' sentiment is gaining ground, causing concern for contesting candidates. Voters are questioning if elected leaders will be accessible to them. Candidates are going the extra mile to reiterate commitment to stay put in the constituency. Leaders from BRS, Congress & BJP maintain outsider tag won't affect functioning of elected representatives.

Pushing backward the key issues confronting the people, a problem of a different kind is confronting the contesting candidates, including president of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao and president of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) A. Revanth Reddy, in erstwhile Nizamabad district.

Locals versus ‘outsiders’ (non-locals) sentiment is slowly but steadily gaining ground in at least five of the nine Assembly constituencies in old Nizamabad district, which was bifurcated into Nizamabad and Kamareddy districts. The issue is visible in Yellareddy, Banswada, Nizamabad, Balkonda and Jukkal SC constituencies.

Once elected, will these candidates — called ‘parachute’ leaders — be accessible to the people is the moot question raised by the voters across the district. This has forced the candidates to go the extra mile to reiterate their commitment to stay put in the constituency.

The issue if it percolates down could cause serious dent into the fortunes of the contestants. New entrants into politics, who are making their debut having made successful careers as entrepreneurs too face the issue.

Former ministers and MLAs’ with over three decades of political careers, who have shifted to other constituencies within the two districts too are facing the heat.

For the record, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, Congress State unit chief Revanth Reddy are in the field from Kamareddy Assembly constituency apart from Gajwel and Kodangal constituencies respectively.

Similarly is the case with senior Congress leader and former minister Md. Ali Shabbir, now contesting from Nizamabad Urban seat. Ex-MLAs Enugu Ravinder Reddy (Congress) and Yendla Laxminarayana (BJP) both are in the fray from Banswada constituency and pitted again Speaker Parige Srinivas Reddy. Previously, the two leaders had represented Yellareddy and Nizamabad constituencies multiple times. BJP candidate from Balkonda Aleti Annapurna too has shifted from Armoor constituency this time.