He may be a novice to politics but he is confidence personified as he strikes a conversation with the locals easily. His fluency in three languages — English, Telugu and Hindi — makes the voters comfortable, and the youngish look and soft demeanour add to the persona.
Wearing the pink scarf of his party, Marri Rajashekar Reddy, the TRS candidate from Malkajgiri constituency reflects the present generation politician who has a understanding of issues that concern the voters, and the nation, and he amply expresses them with the people.
As he moves around the areas near Saibaba temple near Suchitra he shakes hands with the youngsters asking what they expect from a young politician while the posture changes to traditional namasthe as the elders greet him. “I am here to represent a party that has not only achieved statehood for Telangana but working on the path to create a golden Telangana,” he says.
Next IT hub
Mr. Reddy, who runs a chain of engineering and management colleges, catches the pulse of youngsters pretty fast. “I know what you expect from me in Malkajgiri and I promise you it will be the next IT hub of the city,” he assures youngsters. Malkajgiri constituency perhaps has the highest density of colleges in Telangana.
He has a recognisable face given that his father-in-law, Ch. Malla Reddy won the seat in 2014 and is now a member of the State Cabinet. “Mr. Malla Reddy’s hard work in the last five years has made my job easy,” he says adding that he doesn’t see any opposition to the government and the Chief Minister. “That’s the biggest asset a fresher like me has,” he says recalling the huge response the road show of TRS working president K.T. Rama Rao had a couple of days ago.
At a roadside impromptu meeting in Sastry Nagar, he talks about the pensions being given by the government and how Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has a big heart to benefit each and every section. Yes, there are some problems.
Local issues
Water scarcity is an issue but that will be sorted out soon with two new reservoirs being added to the city, Mr. Reddy says but by and large people are happy with the governance.
A workaholic Mr. Reddy used to spend lot of time in the colleges before he jumped into political fray. “Though it’s a bit tiring to start at 6 a.m. and end the day at 10 p.m. but the very thought that I would be representing the biggest Parliament constituency if elected loads me with energy.”
If he wins, Mr. Reddy will carry a unique record of a constituency being represented by a father-in-law and a son-in-law.