A keen triangular fight seems imminent

Andhole: As the Assembly elections is approaching fast, leaders of various parties in the constituency intensified their campaign. Major parties like TRS, Congress, BJP and Bahujan Left Front (BLF) have been encouraging defections of leaders from other parties. The leaders who defected the pink party and joined Congress in the last elections have returned back to their home party. 

TRS candidate Chanti Kranthi Kiran has been vigorously campaigning in the constituency by highlighting public welfare schemes introduced by TRS government like Rythu Bandhu, 24-hour free electric supply, Kalyanalakshmi, Shaadimubarak. He has been busy with door-to-door campaigns and interacting with people. Kranthi Kiran patiently heard their problems and assured to them to solve the issues if voted to power. 

On the Congress side, senior leader and former deputy chief minister Damodar Raja Narasimha is likely to be the party candidate backed by the Grand Alliance (‘Mahakutami’). He started his poll campaign by hoisting party flags at villages in the constituency. He interacted with the local people and explained them about various development programmes introduced during Congress-rule. Damodar blamed TRS leaders for failure in implementing welfare schemes and developmental programmes. 

Former legislator Babu Mohan, who recently shifted loyalties to BJP from TRS, is likely to be the party candidate for the December elections. Irrespective of official announcement, he started the poll campaign and is trying to reach the voters with schemes implemented by Narendra Modi government at Centre. 

BLF candidate P Jayalakshmi is also competing with contestants from other parties in poll campaign. 
Some of the prominent leaders in the constituency are adopting neutral method to avoid dispute with the candidates. Political atmosphere in Jogipet, the headquarters of the constituency, heated up with latest developments. According to political analysts, there will be a triangular fight between Damodar, Babu Mohan and Kranthi Kiran.

In the last elections, former minister and TRS candidate Babu Mohan won the seat by defeating his nearest contestant former deputy chief minister from Congress Damodar Raja Narasimha with a margin of 3,291 votes. Babu Mohan had joined TRS from TDP just before the polls. Elected twice from TDP in previous elections, he scored hat-trick by winning the constituency on TRS ticket. Leaders from SCs represented the constituency in the Legislative Assembly for 13 times, whereas leaders from other communities won thrice. 

Andhole witnessed elections for 15 times where candidates from Congress and Congress(I) won it nine times, TDP four times and TRS once. Independent candidate also represented the constituency in the Assembly. 

BY Reddy Chandrashekhar