Huzurabad Constituency: Will Eatala Rajender's Charm Work This Time? (image: twitter.com/Eatala_Rajender)
Huzurabad Assembly spread over two districts – Karimnagar and Hanamkonda. In the electoral battle, BRS, BJP and Congress are equally hopeful to win the segment. The candidates in the fray include BJP candidate and sitting MLA Eatala Rajender, BRS”s Padi Kaushik Reddy and Congress nominee Vodithala Pranav.
Among the three candidates, Eatala Rajender is facing the tough battle since he is contesting also from Gajwel against KCR, dealing Huzurabad campaign simultaneously is an uphill task. Kaushik Reddy, who at first contested as a Congress candidate in 2018, shifted to the BRS later. In 2021, he became a member of the the Legislative Council (MLC). Kaushik Reddy is known for several controversial remarks, and recently his “suicide” threat during an election campaign that he, along with his two family members would take life if people would not vote for him has posed police to file an FIR. Congress” Voditala Pranav relatively inexperienced leader was with BRS, and later joined Congress.
Huzurabad assembly consituency belong to North Telangana consists of five mandals – Huzurabad, Jammikunta, Veenavanka, Illanthakunta, and Kamalapur. The segment comprises a total of 2,44,514 voters – 1,19,676 men, 1,24,833 women, and five from third gender. In Huzurabad, Backward Castes (BC) constitute 50 per cent, and Scheduled Castes (SC) comprise 22 per cent of the total population. Eatala Rajender”s caste Mudiraj Community, constitute around 25 per cent of the population gathers a significant vote share in Huzurabad.
The constituency was created in 1952 and since then, the Congress won five times, the Socialist Party once, the Independents thrice, the TDP four times, the BRS six times, and the BJP once ( byelection). From 2004, Huzurabad was favouring TRS (now BRS) and it was in 2021-by-election they voted differently, when Eatala Rajender contested as BJP nominee. In 2021 by-election Eata Rajender won the election with 107,022 votes and Gellu Srinivas Yadav of TRS (now BRS) came second with 83,167 votes. In 2018, Eatala Rajendar then TRS Party candidate won the segment with 1,04,840 votes and in the 2014 also he won with 95,315 votes.
Lack of unemployment opportunities and improper distribution of Dalit Bandhu schemes are some of the issues plague the constituency. At the same time, people of constituency recognises how Dalit Bandhu bettered many lives and also acknowledges Asara Pension and Rythu Bandhu schemes launched by the government. It was in Huzurabad constituency Dalit Bandhu scheme was first launched by KCR ahead of the 2021 by-elections to face Eatala Rajender”s BJP candidacy. Though it did not favour the BRS in 2021, how does the schemes work in 2023 is yet to witness. Moreoevr, Eatala Rajender”s charisma saved him in the by-polls, will it work this time since he is sailing in two boats, also need to find out.
