Telangana election 2023: In Mulugu, Congress banks on performance despite tough fight from BRS

Till a few days back, the constituency was bereft of any election campaigning. No flags, no loud speakers belting out folk songs with election messages, and no campaign vehicles. But slowly, the election fever is picking up.

In what promises to be a compelling electoral battle, Telangana's Mulugu assembly constituency is all set for a face-off between incumbent Congress MLA Dansari Anasuya, popularly known as Seethakka, and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi's (BRS) promising debutante, Bade Nagajyothi. The district has a significant population of the Koya tribes, to which both candidates belong. Till a few days back, the constituency was bereft of any election campaigning. No flags, no loudspeakers belting out folk songs with election messages, and no campaign vehicles. But slowly, the election fever is picking up.

Brushing aside senior leader Azmeera Chandulal, BRS sprang a surprise by giving the ticket to Nagajyothi, a rookie. Political pundits consider it a masterstroke to counter the popularity of  Seethakka, a former naxalite — Nagajyothi is the daughter of the late Bade Nageshwara Rao, a slain Maoist leader.

“I was a bit surprised. But my work speaks for itself. The whole BRS party is going all out to target me because I am a vocal critic of BRS in the assembly. But people will vote for me, and the crores of rupees they are spending will go down the drain. I am very confident of victory,” said Seethakka, who banks on her ‘good work’ during Covid.

“I will fly the BRS flag in my homeland of Mulugu, and it will be a gift to the party,” said an emotional Nagajyothi when the BRS list was announced. Last week, she was busy with home visits, and was received warmly by the younger women and the youth. She is highlighting the transformation Mulugu district has witnessed under BRS's governance, emphasising advances in education, healthcare, and the successful implementation of various welfare schemes.

However, Seethakka, 52, who secured victory in the 2018 elections, would be a formidable challenge for the youthful Nagajyothi, 29, a post-graduate who is currently the  chairperson of the Mulugu Zilla Praja Parishad.

In Koyaguda village in Eturnagaram mandal, a group of senior citizens were sitting under a huge tamarind tree. When queried about the elections and if Seethakka would win again, Narasanna said: “Yes, of course! She is the only leader who visited us during Covid. We are not worried about who comes to power in Telangana, here Seethakka will win.”

Close by, a group of youngsters  said that while BRS might not win as many seats as in 2018, it will get the majority. “Last time they won with a huge majority. This time they may not get as many seats, but it looks like KCR is on a hat-trick,” said Sandeep, a graduate, who will vote for the first time.

In the 2018 polls, Seethakka triumphed over TRS (now BRS) candidate Chandulal, 72, by a margin of 22,671 votes. Seethakka began her journey in politics in 2004 as a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) candidate, and since then, she’s been a prominent figure in Mulugu's political landscape. After embracing mainstream politics, she did law, and now holds a Ph.D. in political science from Osmania University. With the sudden perceived resurgence of Telangana Congress, she is optimistic about the party’s prospects and asserts that a decade of BRS rule has fuelled a wave of support for her party.

Seethakka identifies unemployment, irrigation,  and alleged problems with the Dharani land portal as critical local issues. Undeterred by the BRS's efforts and expenditure, she confidently maintains that her work will speak for itself and secure victory for Congress.

Meanwhile, Nagajyothi contends that the BRS's positive impact on Mulugu, evident in advances in education and healthcare, stands as a testament to the ruling party's commitment. Highlighting the formation of Mulugu district in February 2019, and the foundation of a medical college and hospital, Nagajyothi emphasises the corruption-free implementation of welfare schemes and the allocation of podu land to tribals. In an effort to combat deforestation, tribals who practised podu cultivation by clearing patches of forest land were given land outside the forest.

As election fever builds up in Mulugu, both candidates gear up for a clash that not only involves political ideologies but also their shared history of naxal affiliations.

One of the state’s youngest districts, it is rich in minerals like iron ore and laterite and is being developed as a tourist spot. Ramappa temple is a major tourist attraction here, where the famous Sammakka Saralamma Jathara, or Medaram Jathara, a tribal festival, is celebrated at Medaram, in Tadvai mandal. The festival is celebrated for the goddesses of the tribal people, and tribals flock to attend the annual event.

There are 119 assembly constituencies in the state, of which 19 are reserved for scheduled caste (SC) and 12 for scheduled tribe (ST) candidates. In 2018, Congress garnered a record vote share of 52.71 percent in Mulugu, compared to the TRS’s 39.28 percent.

The Mulugu assembly constituency is predominantly inhabited by tribals and is reserved for ST candidates. Mulugu was carved out of the former Jayashankar Bhupalpally district in the erstwhile Warangal region. With 96 per cent of its population in rural areas, it has the highest share of rural population in Telangana. The state also has a higher female population, with 958 women for every 1,000 men, which is above the national average of 943:1,000.

Telangana has 3,17,32,727 registered voters currently, as per the state election commission. In Mulugu, 1,08,588 male, 1,12,277 female, and 21 transgender voters are registered, per the final rolls. For these 2,20,886 voters, 303 polling stations will be put in place when Telangana goes to the polls on November 30. Results will be declared on December 3.