Contestants in Telugu states fry 'mirchi bajjis', iron clothes to woo voters

HYDERABAD: Candidates of political parties in Telugu-speaking states are doing everything they can to garner attention of voters.

The most entertaining contributions have so far been from TRS candidates contesting the Lok Sabha polls. In a faux pas, that even had him in splits, Khammam candidate Nama Nageshwara Rao while addressing public during a road show asked them to vote for the cycle symbol. He only realised his mistake when said it the second time and burst out laughing correcting himself.

Nama Nageshwara Rao is contesting on the car symbol of the TRS in the 2019 polls when in the past, as a TDP candidate he had contested on the cycle symbol. It was just before the polls that he joined the TRS and got the ticket.

TRS candidate from Nalgonda Vemireddy Rajasekhar Reddy also stunned the audience and those who were sharing the dais with him during his campaign when he announced that he was a Congress candidate. He quickly realised the mistake and made amends.

What is also interesting is what politicians are doing as part of their campaign to impress voters. In Hindupur assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh, actor Balakrishna’s wife did some construction labour work as part of the campaign for her husband. It was another matter that Vasundhara drew some construction material with a ‘paara’ (hoe) – and that was it.

Nizamabad BJP candidate Dharmapuri Arvind who addresses road shows and holds meetings also goes on to the streets with voters. He not only had some pani puri at a road side stall, he even got involved in making some jilebis.

Nizamabad BJP candidate Dharmapuri Arvind with his supporters

TRS candidate from Malkajigiri Marri Rajasekhar Reddy also finds it best to interact with the public on the roads, apart from his meetings and roads shows. He stopped by to make some ‘mirji bajji’ at the road side with his father-in-law and Medchal legislator, health minister Ch Malla Reddy being by his side.

TRS candidate from Malkajigiri Marri Rajasekhar Reddy

Congress candidate from Hyderabad Feroz Khan, who is pitted against AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, has come out with a poster with a promise which says: I, Mohammed Khan, pledge with fairness and honesty, if I win this Lok Sabha election 2019, and I am blessed to be your chosen voice for the parliament, I will bring Rs 1,000 crore just for the development of old city.

Congress candidate from Secunderabad Anjan Kumar Yadav is seeking votes by showing the metro rail as an achievement of the Congress. In his posters, he informs that metro rail project was started in July 2012 during the Congress government.

In Chevella, Congress candidate Konda Vishweshwar Reddy’s wife Sangita Reddy campaigned for him in Budvel with giving a ‘high five’ to the electorate. She also ironed clothes at a shop. “Only Congress can develop the country,” she told the crowd adding that Rahul Gandhi was the right man to lead the country.

Nara Lokesh’s gaffes in his Mangalagiri constituency in Andhra Pradesh has generated mirth. He was trolled for saying during his campaign that Telangana government was trying to take Machipatnam port to Telangana. Meanwhile, TRS MLA Gadari Kishore of Thungathurthi along with a cultural troupe indulged in sword-wielding during the filing of nomination of TRS Lok Sabha candidate Vemireddy Narasimha Reddy.