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A strange calm envelops Gajwel, a town about 60km from Hyderabad. The streets show no sign of an upcoming election, party offices seem to be sleeping and there are no leaders smiling at you from hoardings. Ask anyone on the street though, and they will tell you it is the calm before a storm. In a few weeks, Gajwel will see the toughest electoral battle in Telangana, featuring Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao.

All those big buildings and beautification work are just cosmetic changes and people are not happy with the rule. - Vanteru Pratap Reddy, congress leader

The sitting MLA is not just the face of his party, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), but also of the state, India’s youngest. A mass leader and an excellent orator, Rao’s shrewd yet risky moves have taken him far. He has not lost an election in the past 30 years.

This time, however, he is in a precarious situation. On December 7, Gajwel will vote, and the state will watch closely. A loss for Rao would reshape not only Telangana politics, but also within the TRS. His family has a handful of lawmakers; Rao’s fall would change power equations within the party.

Gajwel has seen a lot of development in the past four and a half years, and is touted as a model constituency. Well-laid roads and pleasing LED streetlights welcome you to the town, with a lot more in store.

There are rows of charming structures on a sprawling campus, part of an education hub that was Rao’s brainchild. A clock tower lends a colonial feel to a yet-to-open integrated market, which will sell vegetables, fruits and meat. There are also integrated office spaces, a ring road, a 100-bed hospital, an auditorium, and parks and beautified lakes.

“Our town is better than Hyderabad in many aspects,” said B. Suresh, a small trader and a proud resident of Gajwel. “We now have everything here. The projects have been planned keeping the next 50 years in mind.”

If that is so, why should Rao worry? Well, for starters, he seems to have earned the tag of an invisible leader, and is also seen as an outsider. Rao hails from neighbouring Siddipet town, from where he has won six assembly elections. In 2004, he also won from Karimnagar Lok Sabha constituency, and left Siddipet to his nephew Harish Rao. His association with Gajwel started in 2008, when he bought land in Erravalli village, which is in the constituency. He then built a farmhouse there and has been a regular visitor since. In 2014, banking on the pro-Telangana sentiment, he contested from Gajwel to the assembly and won by a little more than 19,000 votes. The constituency has 2.27 lakh voters.

Vanteru Pratap Reddy | Venkateshh PVanteru Pratap Reddy | Venkateshh P

This time, however, the fight will be tougher. His chief opponent, Congress leader Vanteru Pratap Reddy, enjoys a rapport with voters that Rao does not. For the past 15 years, Reddy has been meeting bereaved voters and donating about 015,000 to the families. This has earned him immense goodwill.

“He [Rao] may be chief minister, but for me he is a weak opponent,” said Reddy, on the sidelines of a meeting with members of a backward community. “All those big buildings and beautification work are just cosmetic changes and people are not happy with the rule,” he added. “Corruption, unemployment and KCR’s failure to fulfil poll promises will help me win with a huge majority.”

Reddy’s confidence comes, in part, from the numbers. In 2014, Reddy, as a candidate of the Telugu Desam Party, came a close second to Rao. This time, however, he is with the Congress, and an alliance with the TDP is on the cards. With both parties working together, Reddy is sure that he will trounce Rao.

Moreover, there seems to be a consolidation of the Reddys in Gajwel. The politically influential community seems to be rallying behind Reddy; his rival Rao belongs to another powerful upper caste, the Velamas.

Apart from caste, there also seems to be widespread sympathy for Reddy. Apparently, he had to sell all his property because he lost two elections, and now lives in a rented house. In view of this, several voters said he should be given another chance.

The TRS, however, has put on a brave face. “Looking at all the development work we have taken up, every vote will be in our favour,” said Panyala Bhupathi Reddy, who is in charge of the constituency. “The voters know that, as chief minister, their MLA did so much in four and half years, and he can do a lot more in the next five. Our primary membership has also gone up significantly.”

Development, however, does not necessarily mean votes. For instance, two proposed irrigation projects, Kondapochamma Sagar and Mallanna Sagar, will displace people from at least seven villages in the constituency, and this has led to public anger. “Ask him to meet me, I will teach him a lesson. All that remains with me is this,” said 65-year-old Yadagiri of Thanedarpally village, brandishing a stick. His four acres of agricultural land were acquired at 012 lakh an acre. “We have a huge family,” he said. “What will I do with that compensation?”

Rajesh, a youth from Mamidiyala village, which will be acquired for one of the projects, said, “Why will we vote for the TRS? The chief minister has a farmhouse just a few kilometres away. Did he even once come and enquire how we are doing and what will happen to our future? On the other hand, Congress leaders have been visiting us and supporting us in our time of grief.”

Also, farmers in the area did not seem impressed by loan waivers and welfare schemes. And though the votes from the affected villages may only be a few thousands, in a close battle, every vote counts.

Political observers say Rao is in a tricky position. If he chooses to fight from a second seat or selects another constituency, it will be a moral victory for the opposition. And, if he loses, it would be the biggest upset of the assembly elections.

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Rs vote bank less than 10K in Gajwel. Some villages lo dominating. not enough to beat KCR.

BCs lo baaga anti vasthe thappa KCR odipovadam kastam.

Congress need to give more seats to BCs to get more BC voting & to cross 50 mark in TG assembly.

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Pink Slip TRS ki icchi KCR gelichina Ok for all neutrals.

Ee media athi choodalekapothunnam last few days, almost every channel telecasting paid programs in favor of TRS MLAs & Ministers. Analysis peru cheppi MLA & Ministers develop chesaru ani oodarakoduthunnaru.

EC sleeping.

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34 minutes ago, RKumar said:

Rs vote bank less than 10K in Gajwel. Some villages lo dominating. not enough to beat KCR.

BCs lo baaga anti vasthe thappa KCR odipovadam kastam.

Congress need to give more seats to BCs to get more BC voting & to cross 50 mark in TG assembly.

10k na??Mari evarunnaru akkada??

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6 minutes ago, sskmaestro said:

Day dreaming if we believe KCR will lose as MLA. He may not lose, but only possibility is to bring down the margin below 10k. That’s a moral victory. 

 

Main in focus is to form govt and not defeat KCR. 

Its not day dreaming Maestro bro...its Dreaming Big...NTR, Indira Gandhi lantolle odipoyaaru elections llo..

Idhi kanuka nijanga jaragaale gaani....Kaalajnaanam raasina Brahmam gaari shishyudu Sheikh Siddapa Chandas ki ..naa sontha karchulu pettukuni sunthi cheyisthaa..

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12 minutes ago, chsrk said:

Its not day dreaming Maestro bro...its Dreaming Big...NTR, Indira Gandhi lantolle odipoyaaru elections llo..

Idhi kanuka nijanga jaragaale gaani....Kaalajnaanam raasina Brahmam gaari shishyudu Sheikh Siddapa Chandas ki ..naa sontha karchulu pettukuni sunthi cheyisthaa..

Adhi jarigithey anandinchey vallallo mundunta.... nothing is impossible. If KCR contests from 2 seats, he will lose gajwel for sure! 

 

Edit : ah peddamanushula pandaga kastha live esthey US unnollaki soulabhyam ga untundi 

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21 minutes ago, sskmaestro said:

Day dreaming if we believe KCR will lose as MLA. He may not lose, but only possibility is to bring down the margin below 10k. That’s a moral victory

  

Main in focus is to form govt and not defeat KCR. 

KCR emanna laksha majority tho gelichaadaa...? just 12k. 

Eesaari 100% vodipothaadu.... irrespective of money. unless payina evaro cheppinattu EVM tampering ayithey thappa... 

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1 minute ago, sskmaestro said:

 

 

Edit : ah peddamanushula pandaga kastha live esthey US unnollaki soulabhyam ga untundi 

Manodi sunthi karyakramaniki Kodi Katti vaadala Mondi Katti vaadala ani public poll kooda pedadhaam bro..let us wait for all the good times to come..

..

 

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5 minutes ago, LuvNTR said:

dubai sekhar gaadu vodipodu. vote ki 5k ichi ayina gelusthadu. money daggara asalu venakadadu vaadu. 

Simple equation : if KCR chooses to contest from 2 seats, he will lose Gajwel. If he choose to contest from one seat, he will win with slight majority

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12 minutes ago, sskmaestro said:

Simple equation : if KCR chooses to contest from 2 seats, he will lose Gajwel. If he choose to contest from one seat, he will win with slight majority

dubai sekhar gaadu delhi ki velladu gaa....akkada deal set chesukoni vosthadu EC vallatho via BJP. the money offer they make to EC staff and counting staff etc. makes it impossible for getting defeated. :D

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