Telangana is all set to witness an intense three-cornered competition in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The Congress, which has been revitalised under Revanth Reddy's leadership, is competing against Narendra Modi's BJP and the regional powerhouse, the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) led by K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR).
On the 13th of May, with 17 parliamentary seats at stake, the political dynamics have evolved since the last general elections in 2014 and 2019. It is important to note that Congress disrupted BRS's dominance in the November 2023 state assembly elections, a party that had held sway since Telangana's formation in 2014.
Telangana's newly elected Congress government is gearing up for a significant challenge. The BRS, led by KCR, is determined to establish its significance in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, Reddy strives to prove himself to be a prominent political leader in Telangana.
Also read: Telangana 2024 Lok Sabha election phase 4: Key constituencies and candidates
The Congress party is facing a resurgent BRS and BJP, which has gradually gained ground in the state since 2014, but also the challenges of governance. The BJP is leveraging Prime Minister Modi's popularity, while Reddy faces pressure to deliver his promises.
Despite these challenges, BRS is confident its decade-long development record will be enough to regain public confidence. However, they are also dealing with the fallout of the arrest of KCR's daughter and senior leader, Kalvakuntla Kavitha, in a Delhi scandal, which they claim is a case of political retribution. These challenges make the upcoming electoral battle even more intense and unpredictable.
BRS is facing the additional challenge of losing some of its senior leaders to the Congress or BJP, further intensifying the electoral competition. The electoral battle is particularly pronounced in Hyderabad, Karimnagar, and Khammam constituencies. Congress is considering options in these areas, while the BJP and BRS have confidently declared their candidates for all 17 seats. In Karimnagar, the BJP has nominated its sitting MP, Bandi Sanjay, for the upcoming elections, while BRS has put forward the experienced B. Vinod Kumar. This has left Congress searching for a strong candidate to contest in the polls.
The Congress party in Khammam faces a challenge when selecting a candidate, as they will compete against the incumbent BRS MP Nama Nageshwar Rao and T. Vinod Rao from the BJP.
Hyderabad has a predominantly Muslim population and remains a stronghold of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who has consistently won there. In this context, the BRS has nominated Gadam Srinivas Reddy, the BJP is relying on the dynamic Madhavi Latha, and the Congress is considering introducing a Muslim candidate to challenge Owaisi.
Secunderabad is also an intriguing battleground, with the winner traditionally being from the party in power at the Centre. The current Union Minister, G. Kishen Reddy, is campaigning for re-election, which adds another layer of interest to the race.
In the 2019 election, BRS secured nine seats, BJP won four, Congress bagged three, and AIMIM one. However, current surveys and public sentiment indicate a potential edge for Congress, suggesting that the BJP might strengthen its position. This potential shift in power adds a layer of anticipation and uncertainty to the election, making it a crucial moment for all the political parties involved.
As election day approaches, the people of Telangana are set to cast their votes in a pivotal election that promises to be as unpredictable as it is significant.
Also check: Live Updates 2024 Lok Sabha election
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