Stable govt, natl security major concerns of voters

Hyderabad: Sitting MLC and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Executive member N Ramachandra Rao, contesting from the Malkajgiri Parliament Constituency, feels that a stable government and national security are the two major issues bothering people when they look at national politics.

He believes that only Narendra Modi can fulfil the aspirations of the people. In an exclusive interview with The Hans India, Ramachandra Rao talks about his campaign, competition from other parties, and his plans for the constituency.

How is your election campaign going and what is the response from the people?

Malkajgiri Parliament constituency has about 36 lakh voters. The composition of voters comprises of people from across the country including Kashmiris, Tamil and Bengali speaking people and also those from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh also.

Except for some areas in Medchal mandal, the rural mandals in Quthbullapur and Medchal are urbanised. Most of the voters are employees from central government, private and public sector undertakings in the area.

They are very mature in weighing the issues on hand. We are seeing a silent and a positive swing in favour of the BJP. People here may vote differently from that of the State Assembly elections.

What makes you think so?

I see that a stable government and national security are the two major issues bothering people when they look at national politics. If not Narendra Modi, then who? They are not able to find an answer to it from any other parties.

Given the current scenario, people want a leader who is decisive and non-corrupt. These are the factors which would favour my party and me.

What are the issues that you wish to focus on if you are elected as an MP?

There are several issues like construction of rail over bridge and rail under bridge pending for years. A Rs 300 crore reservoir was built, but it has not yet been commissioned, and people continue to face water shortage. They get water for once in six days during summer.

Bad roads are another problem. Some work has been taken up after I filed a PIL in the State High Court. But, one common feature across all the areas was illegal occupation of lakes resulting in flooding of several areas whenever there are inundated rains.

Pollution is another issue. Particularly, about four to five lakh migrant labour in Quthbullapur has been facing health problems. They are neither covered under Ayushman Bharat or Arogyasri. Then, the extension of MMTS phase two remained pending due to non- cooperation from the State government.

We need to have Moula Ali-Sanantnagar, Malkajgiri-Bhongir, Secunderabad-Bhongiri MMTS routes. The centre had already released the funds through railways, but the State is not releasing its share.

The centre is ready with funds for modernisation of the railway stations and to the extension of platforms. But the State government is yet to allocate lands. Hyderabad Metro Rail needs to cover areas beyond Alwal and Quthbullapur.

There is an urgent need to ease traffic problems between LB Nagar and Kukatpally. The SRDP which is the brainchild of the TRS government should be extended to all the areas.

Why should people vote for the BJP when there are complaints that its government at the centre did not do anything for Telangana in the last five years?

Blaming the centre for not giving hand-holding to the development of Telangana is a white lie. A central agency like HUDCO provided about Rs 8,000 crore and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana funds have gone into the State government's double bedroom housing scheme.

National Highway development in the State has got about Rs 43,000 crore and approvals were given to regional ring roads. Centre's power policy helped Telangana give 24-hour uninterrupted power supply in the State, like 19 other States in the country.

What they added to it was free power to agriculture. Funds for the pending irrigation projects, central share in KCR kits, pension schemes, one-rupee KG rice, tribal university all have centre's contribution.

The State government's aim to make Telangana the 'Seed Bowl' of the country remains incomplete without the centre giving Seed Certification Agency to the State.

How do you see your opponents from the TRS and the Congress?

I cannot underestimate my opponents. But the people of this constituency have already tested the Congress, TRS, TDP and now those from the TDP have joined the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

Only, BJP is not tested yet. So, I am asking them to give BJP an opportunity to represent them and to work for the development of the constituency. Also, to give their support to bring Modi back to power at the Centre.