Telangana

Telangana 2018

TRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao, son K Tarakarama Rao and nephew Thanneeru Harish Rao filed affidavits for the upcoming Telangana Assembly Elections.

Haripriya Suresh

Nitin B.

The assets of the first family of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the state has grown by a considerable percentage over the last four years, a look at the affidavits filed by K Chandrasekhar Rao, his son, K Tarakarama Rao, and nephew, Thanneeru Harish Rao in 2014 and 2018 revealed. According to the affidavit filed by KCR last week, the TRS chief shows his total annual income as per the financial year of 2017-18 as Rs 1,10,25,210, as compared to Rs 6,59,684 that he earned in the financial year 2012-13. In his affidavit, KCR also said that he had a net agricultural income of Rs 91,52,657. As far as his movable assets are concerned, KCR has Rs 2,40,000 cash in hand, compared to Rs 9,90,000 in his previous affidavit. His wife has Rs 93,595 cash in hand, compared to Rs 1,50,000 in 2014. KCR also said that his bank account balance was Rs 5,63,73,946 in 2018, compared to Rs 44,66,327 in 2014. His investment of Rs 55,00,000 in Telangana Broadcasting Pvt Ltd (which runs T News) and Rs 4,16,25,00 in Telangana Publication Private Limited (Which runs Telangana Today) remains unchanged. As far as jewellery is concerned, KCR has 75 grams of gold worth Rs 2,40,000. This increased from 60 grams of gold in 2014, which was worth Rs 1,80,000. His wife Shobha Rao owns 2,200 grams of gold, diamonds and valuable gemstones worth Rs 93,66,184, compared to 650 grams worth Rs 19,50,000 in 2014. It must be noted that KCR also has taken loans from KTR and KTR’s wife, which he has shown in the form of liabilities. Increase in assets In 2018, KCR has gross total movable assets of Rs 11,35,37,725 and gross total immovable assets worth Rs 8,88,47,570, which brings his gross total assets to Rs 20,23,85,295. In 2014, the same figures respectively were Rs 6,50,82,464 and Rs 8,65,00,000, which means that his gross total assets were worth Rs 15,15,82,464 four years ago. This means that KCR's assets have increased by 33.514% since 2014. K T RAMA RAO KTR saw the highest jump in his assets. KT Rama Rao’s total annual income for the financial year 2017-18 was Rs 74.6 lakh, compared to Rs 29,59,219 in 2014. However, his wife, Shaimila Kalvakuntla's income has seen a massive jump from Rs 21,50,720 in 2014 to Rs 4,59,53,822 in the latest affidavit. Cash in hand has decreased for both KTR (Rs 1,42,594 from Rs 6,25,000) and Shaimila (Rs 1,08,231 from Rs 7,56,300) The couple’s bank balance also shot up. KTR’s increased from Rs 3,93,920 in 2014 to Rs 34,36,131. Meanwhile, his wife's bank balance also increased from Rs 20,92,439 to Rs 1,06,98,043. Rs 19,59,692 was also deposited in a bank account on his daughter's name. While KTR has invested Rs 47,78,669 in shares and bonds, his wife has invested Rs 22,50,05,539. The family also owns one car, a Toyota Innova. As far as jewellery is concerned, KTR owns 100 grams of gold worth Rs 2.5 lakh, while his wife owns Rs 3.9 kg of gold ornaments and diamonds worth Rs 1,09,05,000 -- an increase from 3.5kg worth Rs 87,50,000 in 2014. In 2018, KTR and his spouse disclosed total movable assets worth Rs 31,53,59,828 and total immovable assets worth Rs 10,29,34,600 bringing his gross total assets to Rs 41,82,94,428. The numbers respective for 2014 was Rs 5,11,25,759 and Rs 2,87,53,690, bringing his total assets to Rs 7,98,79,449. This means that his total increase in assets is 423.657% Thanneeru Harish Rao In his latest affidavit, Thanneeru Harish Rao's annual income was Rs 20,39,110, as opposed to Rs 6,44,349 in 2014. His wife showed an income of Rs 2,25,03,681 in 2018, compared to Rs 10,54,300 in 2014. Harish Rao had Rs 2,75,440 cash in hand while his spouse had Rs 2,21,122 in 2018, as compared to Rs 18 lakh and 8 lakh respectively in 2014. Cash in hand The gross total value of Harish Rao's movable assets is Rs 1,00,47,423 compared to Rs 90,80,719 in 2014, while his wife's movable assets were Rs 3,87,72,302 compared to 1,60,78,889 in the previous affidavit. As far as his immovable assets were concerned, he had a total of Rs 3,46,00,000, a massive jump from Rs 45,00,000, while his wife declared immovable assets worth Rs 3,10,00,000. In 2014, his wife had declared no immovable assets. Harish Rao and his spouse declared a gross total assets of Rs 11,44,83,799 in 2018 compared to Rs 2,96,59,608 in 2014, an increase of 285.992%.

Healthcare

The stone, measuring eight centimetres, occupied almost the entire left kidney, resulting in its reduced functioning at only 18 percent.

TNM Staff

Image for representation

In a rare feat, doctors at the Krishna Institute of Medical Hospitals (KIMS) in Hyderabad saved a 39-year-old man by conducting an open kidney surgery to remove a large stone, the size of a potato. The stone, measuring eight centimetres, occupied almost the entire left kidney, resulting in its reduced functioning at only 18 percent. Considering the size of the stone, doctors had to go for open surgery on the patient, a statement from the hospital said. The patient, a farmer from Karimnagar, had come to KIMS Hospital with complaints of pain in the left flank for 15 days. Upon investigation, Neil N Trivedi, consultant urologist, and his team found that the patient had a large stone in the left kidney due to which his kidney was poorly functioning."Usually with such a large size stone, the kidney function would have been damaged. But to our surprise, this patient had partially preserved renal function and therefore, we planned to remove the stone. We planned for Anatrophic Nephrolithotomy - a surgery in which the kidney is completely split to remove the stone as a whole and then kidney was re-sutured. The patient recovered well and has been discharged with normal renal parameters,” said Trivedi. According to doctors, this was a case of silent kidney stones. Unlike regular pain and other symptoms involved in regular kidney stones, silent stones never show any sign or symptoms until the kidney function is typically affected. In December last year, KIMS Hospitals received another case of silent kidney stones, where a farmer from Gajwel in Siddipet district had silent kidney stones in both kidneys. Doctors at the time inserted stents in both kidneys, and then a two-phase keyhole surgery was performed. The kidney stones were blocking the kidneys from draining out urine . “Contrary to general symptoms of kidney stones, silent stones never show any sign until it reaches to the point where the kidney function gets affected. Silent stones are found one in every 10 –15 stone cases approximately,” Dr Francis Sridhar Kathumalla then told the Times of India. With IANS inputs

Telangana2018

The reason for the high number of nominations is that in many cases, members from the same family -- mostly the nominated candidate and their spouse -- filed their paperwork together.

TNM Staff

A total of 3,584 candidates filed their nomination in total for the upcoming Telangana Legislative Assembly election between November 12 and November 19, the last day notified by the Election Commission for receiving applications. According to EC data, 300 candidates from the Congress had filed their nomination, while 270 from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had also done so. There were 272 candidates from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) followed by 182 from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). While the Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI(M) saw 64 candidates filing their nomination, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) saw 52 candidates filing their nomination. This was followed by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) at 36, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) at 21, Communist Party of India (CPI) at 5 and YSRCP at 1. A total of 2,442 independent candidates and candidates of other parties also filed their nomination, bringing the total to 3,584. The reason for the high number of nominations for the 119-member Legislative Assembly is that in many cases, members from the same family -- mostly the nominated candidate and their spouse -- filed their paperwork together. This is to ensure that that in case one person's nomination papers are disqualified or rejected by the EC during the scrutiny process, the candidate will still able to campaign and contest indirectly. The most number of nominations were filed on November 19, the last day, with the EC stating that a total of 2,087 candidates, which included 135 from the Congress, 128 from the BJP, 116 from the TRS, 112 from the BSP, 28 from the CPM, 21 from the NCP, 20 from the TDP, 13 from the AIMIM and 3 from the CPI. 1,511 independent candidates and those from other political parties also filed their nomination on Monday. Telangana will go to the polls on December 7. Counting of votes will take place on December 11.

Telangana2018

"TRS will play a role to make sure that any government at the Centre will take into account the needs of the States," KCR said.

TNM Staff

Caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday said that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) would play a major role in national politics in the formation of a 'federal front', after the Legislative Assembly elections being held in the state next month. The TRS chief said that national parties like the Congress and BJP had failed to live up to the expectation of the people. Speaking at an election rally in Khammam district, KCR said, "Narendra Modi was given power with lot of hopes, but there is nothing great he has done. (He) has not done anything for people. A definite 'federal front' that resists and stops them and enhances powers of states needs to come." “I will ensure that a Federal Front is formed that will ensure just governance at the Centre. I have already done some work on this. I will not make tall promises but assure you that TRS will play a role to make sure that any government at the Centre will take into account the needs of the States and ensure justice for the people,” he told the gathering. KCR, recently returned to the election campaign after a short gap, which he largely spent at his fortified farmhouse near Gajwel, chalking out plans for the party. Earlier this year, KCR said that it was the successive flawed policies of the Congress and the BJP governments, which had hindered India's progress on the global ladder. Stressing the need for decentralisation, he had called for transferring subjects like agriculture, education, rural and urban development, drinking water and health to the state."Why should the Centre keep subjects like laying roads in villages and paying wages under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)?" he had asked. The Centre, he said, should instead focus on key issues like diplomacy. Read: A lesson from KCR: How to be friends with AIMIM and BJP at the same time

Telangana 2018

Congress’s R Krishnaiah and Telangana Jana Samithi’s Gavva Vidyadhar Reddy have filed the B Forms ahead of Telangana polls.

B Kartheek

Telangana Congress's R Krishnaiah

Even after the last day for filing nomination for Telangana elections concluded, the stakeholders of Mahakutami (grand alliance) were left in limbo, as the allies, Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) and the Congress, filed their nominations from Miryalaguda constituency of Nalgonda district. When this reporter reached out to the Congress and TJS candidates to ask if any of them were going to withdraw from the contest, both were determined to continue an electoral fight. While the Congress dubs it a "friendly contest", the TJS disputes it. In an interesting turn of events, Indian National Congress announced its candidate, Backward Classes (BC) leader R Krishnaiah, late on Sunday night. According to Krishnaiah, the Congress party had offered a ticket to him. He claimed that Congress President Rahul Gandhi called him over the phone at around 9 pm and asked him to contest from Miryalaguda on behalf of the party. While Krishnaiah is the official Congress candidate, other party leaders, especially those who were upset at being denied a ticket, also filed the nominations. However, Telangana Jana Samithi’s candidate Gavva Vidyadhar Reddy filed his nomination once again, enclosing his party's B Form on Monday. When TNM asked Vidhyadhar Reddy about going up against a coalition partner, he said, “I was given the B Form on Sunday evening, much before the Congress finalised its candidate. Our party President (M Kodandaram Reddy), who is also the president of the coalition, gave me the form.” Asked if he is going to withdraw his party’s B From or his candidature, Vidyadhar Reddy said he would do neither. He seemed confident and rejected the "friendly contest" tag and said it would play out like any other electoral battle. Incidentally, Kodandaram Reddy, a retired professor from Osmania University, couldn’t file the nomination since the Congress wanted the Jangoan seat. Senior Congress leader K Jana Reddy, meanwhile, has defended the alliance, saying it will be a “friendly contest” between Telangana Jana Samithi and Congress. He was addressing the party cadre at a convention hall in a meeting, introducing the party’s parachute candidate Krishnaiah. Several party cadre, who were the followers of Congress ticket aspirants, vehemently rejected Krishnaiah’s candidature. However, Jana Reddy managed to pacify them. R Krishnaiah told TNM, “Since I will fight for SC, ST, BCs, the Telangana Jana Samithi candidate should withdraw from the contest. If he continues his candidature in the election, still, it will not be a problem. I will win the election with a huge majority as the SC, ST and BC communities are with me. For that matter, even poor of upper castes also supporting my candidature.” When asked how he could seal a victory with just 15 days left for the election, he said, “I have been part of the struggle to fight for their rights in the state for over 40 years. People know me even if I have not contested the election from here.” Competition for TJS, Congress Meanwhile, it’s not just Telangana Jana Samithi that is giving shivers to the Congress in the constituency. Two others have filed nominations as independent candidates, including Skylab Nayak, TPCC secretary and a tribal leader. Miryalaguda constituency is surrounded by tribal hamlets with nearly 38,000 tribal vote share. Alugubelli Amarender Reddy, who joined the Congress aspiring a ticket, has filed nomination and announced that he will be in the fight even if he won’t get the party’s B Form. Interestingly, this constituency is also a stronghold of the CPI(M). Its present candidate, Julakanti Ranga Reddy, won elections three times in the past. Because of the spate of defections, even the cadre themselves are confused who their local leaders are supporting in the election. TRS candidate Nallamothu Baskar Rao had won the previous election on Congress ticket and flipped his loyalty to ruling party, attributing the defection to “development”.

Telangana 2018

Congress workers at Narayanpet burnt flags and climbed atop mobile towers shouting slogans against the party.

TNM Staff

Screen grab from video

Election campaigning has reached a fever-pitch in Telangana as the state is all set to go to polls on December 7. As the last day for filing nominations is past, this election season has been ground to protests from many disgruntled party workers who resort to publicity stunts over denial of tickets. In a video that went viral on Monday, Congress party workers at Narayanpet can be seen burning their own party flags and climbing atop mobile towers after Congress sidelined its own party workers and gave a ticket to K Shivkumar Reddy who had defected into the Congress party from TRS in September. In the video, the visibly angry party workers are seen pitching slogans against Congress and marching with a party flag each in their hands. The workers later heap the flags, pour kerosene and set them on fire. In another video, the workers are seen climbing atop mobile towers in a protest against the party for giving ticket to someone who contested on the TRS ticket in the 2014 polls. Shiva Kumar Reddy, who contested on the TRS ticket from Narayanpet constituency in the 2014 elections, joined the Congress party in September in the presence of All India Congress Committee secretary incharge for Telangana RC Khuntia, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Gadwal MLA DK Aruna and other senior leaders. As the Congress has joined hands with the TDP, TJS and several other parties forming the 'Mahakutami', in a fight against the incumbent TRS government in the upcoming polls, discontent among workers is prevalent and there is a tug of war for party tickets among the many candidates from different parties. On Sunday, ahead of the last day for filing nominations for the Telangana Assembly elections, the Congress in New Delhi finally released its final list of candidates. The Congress on Saturday released its third list of 13 candidates for the Telangana Assembly polls, fielding party veteran and former Andhra Pradesh Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah from Jangaon, a seat that was rumoured to be contested by the TJS chief Kodandaram, a party in alliance with the Congress.

Telangana2018

Vemulaghat residents are unhappy with the ruling TRS saying that it has not done them justice in the Mallannasagar project, which will submerge their village.

Nitin B.

Image: Nitin B

The otherwise quiet village of Vemulaghat in Telangana’s Siddipet district was abuzz with political discussion on Sunday evening as news just reached the local WhatsApp group that ex-Congress state minister Cheruku Muthyam Reddy had defected to the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). Reddy joined TRS in the presence of caretaker Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao after he was disappointed at not being given a ticket. “Did you see? Did you see? There’s a photo,” says a young man as he arrives at a large tent set up outside the gram panchayat, passing his phone around for the older people already assembled there to take a look. A collective sense of disappointment is apparent among those gathered. “We were planning to vote for him. If the Congress would have fielded him, the Dubbak seat would’ve definitely been theirs. Now, we won’t vote for him because he has jumped to the TRS,” one local explains. Vemulaghat falls under the Dubbak constituency in Siddipet district, which is considered a TRS stronghold. A loss for the TRS here would be seen as a loss of prestige. But Vemulaghat locals have taken a vow not to vote for the TRS as they say that the party has not listened to their problems. The village is being seen as a thorn in the side of the ruling party that hopes to return to power. “Very few from our mandal itself will vote for TRS because many have been deceived by the Mallannasagar project. While they may get some stray votes, the majority of the people are against the party,” says another local. The importance of Vemulaghat The locals of Vemulaghat have been on a non-violent protest for close to 900 days, after they took a united decision to not give up their land for the construction of the Mallannasagar reservoir, a pet scheme of the Telangana government. Every day for the last 898 days, five people have assembled at the centre of the village outside the gram panchayat and taken part in a relay hunger strike. Right opposite the protest site, a statue of Mahatma Gandhi overlooks those who sit on strike every day. The Mallannasagar project aims to divert water to drought-hit regions of the state, but will submerge several villages in the process, including Vemulaghat. The locals have only one demand – they will give up their land under the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, and not under Government Orders (GOs) that the state has issued. In fact, the locals have also moved the court and managed to get a stay on the GOs that were issued. Local sentiment Locals say that their protest is not associated with political parties in power but is related to their demand. “It is irrelevant to us as to which party forms the government. Those who had given up their land under GO 123 are yet to get compensation from the state government. Many of them were fooled, and are still awaiting a 2BHK house in return for their land,” explains Hayatuddin, another local. “It is not enough to just give us compensation. We are farmers and we have known only agriculture our entire lives. What we are demanding is adequate compensation that includes an alternate means of livelihood or land, so that we can continue doing something once we are evicted,” he adds. Hayatuddin, also a lawyer, says that they have filed 105 cases in the Hyderabad High Court and with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) related to the Kaleshwaram project, out of which 59 are related to Vemulaghat. “However, the state has not filed counters in many cases,” he adds. The village was also a hotbed of the Telangana separate statehood agitation. Most locals say that they participated in the movement and were staunch TRS supporters at one time. “No one here is saying that we won’t give up our land. We are more than willing to do so in the larger interests of the state, but only if all legal procedures are followed,” says Srinivas Reddy, a local leader. The locals also say that even if the Mahakutami comes to power, their protest will continue until their demands are met. Contenders for the seat The TRS has fielded Solipeta Ramalinga Reddy, a local strongman who is confident of his win, at Dubbak while Cheruku Muthyam Reddy, who had been working on the ground for a long time, including with the locals of the village, was hoping for a Congress ticket. However, the Congress-led grand alliance or ‘Mahakutami’, which includes the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS), the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the CPI, granted the Dubbak seat to the TJS. The TJS has fielded Chindam Raj Kumar, the party’s constituency in-charge, but locals in Vemulaghat say that they have never even seen him. “There are two problems that arise now. One is that the Congress candidate is more well-known and no one knows the TJS candidate. The other is that the older people in the village only know the ‘Hand’ symbol associated with the Congress. Many may get confused when they see the matchbox symbol allotted to the TJS,” explains Malla Reddy, a resident of the village.

Telangana2018

Meanwhile, Maheshwar Reddy – on whose behalf the ‘bribe’ call was allegedly made – has rubbished the allegations.

TNM Staff

File photo: Nitin B

Hyderabad MP and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi triggered a row after he claimed that a Congress candidate from Mudhol in Telangana offered Rs 25 lakh to cancel the former's rally in Nirmal. Speaking in Nirmal on Monday night, the AIMIM chief said, as he held up his phone, "The Congress candidate said 'stop Owaisi and I will give you Rs 25 lakh'. I have a recording. This is the Congress' politics. What do you call such a party? You think you'll buy me for 25 lakh?""They think that because my name is Asaduddin Owaisi, I have a beard and wear a cap, they can buy me? I am not going to be bought," he added. The party on Tuesday later released a phone recording to the media which, it alleged, was between Rama Rao Pawer Patil and Bhainsa Municipal Chairman Jabair Ahmed from the AIMIM."Maheshwar Reddy (Congress candidate from Nirmal) came. He said he will give Rs 25 lakh, if you stop the event," the man said to be Rama Rao Patil is heard saying. To this, Ahmed says, "That's not possible. Even if he makes it Rs 50 lakh, I can't do that. I can't do anything about it." However, the first person continues to try and persuade Jabair over the course of the conversation, but Jabair refuses to succumb. Following this, the voice which seemingly belongs to Patil asks Jabair not to tell anyone about the offer and backs down, before hanging up the call. Meanwhile, Maheshwar Reddy rubbished the allegations, telling local reporters, “Why should I offer Rs 25 lakh to anyone? If you have a recording of me offering Rs 25 lakh to anyone, I will step down from contesting in the elections.” “A massive crowd of people turned up to support me when I went to file my nomination. Seeing the crowd, TRS leader Indrakaran Reddy called Asaduddin Owaisi to Nirmal. The response was so dismal that they had to bring people from neighbouring constituencies to attend their events,” he said. When Telangana caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao dissolved the Legislative Assembly on September 6, he said that the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the AIMIM were ‘friendly’ parties. In line with this, the TRS has put up seemingly weak candidates in the strongholds of the latter party. In his response, Owaisi told a local media outlet at the time, “Our goal is that public at large should benefit from voting for us and there should be development especially for minorities like Muslims and Dalits. In the Telangana election, unlike the Karnataka election, there will be a majority government of the TRS. I'm convinced that K Chandrasekhar Rao will be the next Chief Minister.” Telangana will go to the polls on December 7 and the counting of votes will take place on December 11.

Telangana2018

"I feel people who were fighting for Telangana and share a common ideology, including me, are no longer needed in the party," Vishweshwar wrote," he wrote in a letter to KCR.

TNM Staff

In a major development ahead of the Telangana Legislative Assembly Elections, Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, the sitting Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MP from Chevella, resigned from the party on Tuesday after weeks of speculations that he was going to quit. He also said that he would be resigning from the Lok Sabha. Reports also suggest that the senior leader may join the Congress on Wednesday. In a three-page letter to TRS chief and incumbent Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Vishweshwar wrote, "A separate Telangana was the aspiration of the people and a noble cause, as the people felt that the injustice meted out to them in the combined state of Andhra Pradesh would end...You had asked me to join the TRS party in 2013. Acknowledging your leadership role in the history of the struggle, I did join the party. KT Rama Rao visited me many times and showed me the vision of a people-centric, ideology-based party...and hence, I joined with hope and enthusiasm." Vishweshwar then outlined how he had worked hard for his constituency. touring several places, representing the people who voted him to power in Parliament as well. "Regretfully, based on multiple incidents, I began to feel (especially in the last two years) that we as a party were becoming more and more distant, from the very people, whom we had once represented extremely well. We, as a government were becoming inaccessible to the people," the letter states. "I was forced into a position of contemplating leaving the party despite the fact that today, TRS enjoys significant goodwill in the social circles that we are in. I thought long and hard about this step before deciding to take this major decision and analyzed the scenario by listing my disappointments at various levels," he added. Vishweshwar also said that he had fought for the party when it needed him but he was now 'powerless' and could not 'speak out' and had also decided to resign from the Lok Sabha. "However, the party has inducted people who were against Telangana and our ideology into the cabinet and given them more power and prominence. I feel people who were fighting for Telangana and share a common ideology, including me, are no longer needed in the party," Vishweshwar wrote. According to media reports, Vishweshwar is upset over the influence and lobbying of the family of incumbent Transport Minister Patnam Mahender Reddy in erstwhile Rangareddy District. "I am personally very pained at the situation I am in and hope that you will understand my perspective. Not being a traditional politician, I cannot delink action and ideology, sense and sentiment. I sincerely hope to maintain a friendly and cordial relationship with you," he concluded. An engineer-turned-entrepreneur, Vishweshwar Reddy is one of the richest politicians in the state and as per his affidavit filed in 2014, he owned movable assets worth Rs 171,72,69,324 and his immovable assets worth Rs 37,66,97,400. However, the total figure in his affidavit including his spouse and three dependents that he had declared, were Rs 478,90,70,310 and Rs 49,15,34,900 bringing his total net assets Rs 528,06,05,210. The incident comes as a big blow for the TRS ahead of the polls scheduled to be held in the state on December 7.

Accident

The police said that the trio were riding triples and none of them were wearing helmets.

TNM Staff

Image for representation

Three young men died on the spot in Hyderabad late on Monday night, after the bike that they were on, rammed into a pillar of the city's Metro Rail. The incident took place opposite the Mettuguda fuel station. The deceased were identified as Prithvi Raj, Uday Reddy and B Uday. Two of them were 21 years old while one was aged 24. While two of them were engineering students who studied at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Technology (MGIT) and the Guru Nanak Institute of Technology (GNIT), the third was said to be a private employee. The police said that the trio were riding triples and none of them were wearing helmets. They were on their way to Uppal, to eat at a food outlet that stayed open till late in the night at around 2 am, and tried to overtake a car, when the mishap occurred, according to authorities. “Uday possessed a driving licence and they were riding at a high speed, probably because it was late night and the roads were comparatively empty. While trying to overtake a car, they rammed into the Metro pillar,” Lalaguda police inspector, G. Srinivasu was quoted as saying. “The road stretch is properly illuminated and signboards are also there. The divider was also painted recently,” the police added. The bodies were shifted to the Gandhi Hospital for an autopsy and later handed over to their families. According to media reports, the trio had known each other for many years and news of the incident cast a pall of gloom over each of their homes. The police has also examined CCTV footage of the incident and based on a complaint, a case has been filed. Further investigation is underway. Meanwhile, in another incident in Hyderabad, four engineering students who were travelling in a car escaped unhurt after the driver lost control of the vehicle, allegedly due to overspeeding, and the vehicle plunged into the Hussainsagar lake. The incident took place in the early hours of Tuesday and the occupants of the car were rescued by the lake police. The vehicle was later removed from the water with the help of a crane.

Telangana 2018

Chandramukhi Muvvala, who is contesting from Goshamahal, tells TNM that she wants changes to be made at the policy level for the LGBTQ community.

Haripriya Suresh

A total of 3,584 candidates filed their nomination for the upcoming Telangana Assembly polls, and among them was only one member of the trans community – transwoman Chandramukhi Muvvala, who is contesting from the Goshamahal constituency in Hyderabad on a Bahujan Left Front (BLF) ticket. She will be taking on bigwigs such as the BJP’s Raja Singh and Congress’ Mukesh Goud. Chandramukhi, a well-known face in Hyderabad’s trans community, tells TNM that the reason she chose to enter politics because no policy-level changes were being brought into effect by the politicians in power and that she wants a seat at the table. “[I chose to enter] politics because when we ask for policy-level changes, politicians only promise. They are not trying to make policy-level changes for the benefit of the trans or LGBTQ community. I want to sit there and ask them why they are not doing things, and demand that they start doing them now,” she says. While the seed to do something related to politics was planted four years ago, Chandramukhi didn’t think she would actually run for MLA, but only that she would canvass for and promote a party. “I thought I'll canvass for some party and I'll make my work, words, or a member of my community a part of it. But I got a BLF ticket and my entire community was happy. It is the first time that in both the Telugu states that a member of the trans community has got a ticket from a party,” she says. Goshamahal, the constituency where Chandramukhi is contesting from, comprises 7 divisions – Dattatreya Nagar, Begum Bazar, Gunfoundry, Mangalhat, Goshamahal, Begum Bazar and Jam Bagh. The area suffers from civic issues for which locals blame the incumbent BJP MLA Raja Singh and local issues are what Chandramukhi aims to give her attention to. “I'm not promising them the world and I won’t promise to provide each and every person with a job and that I will do everything. Road facility is terrible, roadside areas and by-lanes are in bad shape, housing schemes are bad; we don't even have water facilities in some areas. Drainage collection is bad and there is a division between the rich and the poor. I will remove that first,” she says. Chandramukhi says that levels of education among children in the area is low and that it has child labour. “I'm transgender and I never said that I'll only work for trans people. I have been part of women’s issues, children's rights and in Goshamahal, I have seen a lot of child labour. I want to curb child labour. Education must be good in this constituency,” she adds. Chandramukhi emphasises that in comparison to other areas, Goshamahal is friendly to members of the trans community, which is one of the reasons she chose to contest from the constituency. “Senior members of the trans community have settled in Goshamahal. The area is very friendly to the community because all women know transgender persons and we know what they do daily. People from the Marwadi community used to take blessings from us and it's a good thing for us. They ask for us blessings and even we need their support. We give blessings regularly – for whatever function that happens in the families we go, bless them and dance – that kind of friendly relationship exists with the people of Goshamahal constituency,” she says. “People who live in the slums have always been friendly with us because we also belong to the slum. We are with the slum, working with them and eating with them. So, I thought that Goshamahal will be the best place to contest,” she adds. When it comes to the rights of the trans community with respect to the constituency, she says, “There are no housing schemes for trans persons. They don't have information about the government's welfare schemes, and whether or not they are voting is also an issue for us. Some people don't have voter ID cards. We have to look into all of it.” Regardless of whether she wins or loses, Chandramukhi says that efforts will be on for one thing -- the implementation of the 2014 Supreme Court judgement in the National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India, known as the NALSA judgement. “The NALSA judgement should be implemented, and I'll put my heart and soul into it. When it is implemented, Telangana's trans community will get whatever they need. I'll do as much as I can to ensure that each point of it is implemented,” says Chandramukhi.

Telangana 2018

In what seems to be a quick fix by the TPCC following Vijayashanti’s statement, the advertisements on Wednesday included her photo amidst 14 other leaders, all men.

TNM Staff

File photo: PTI

Actor-turned-politician Vijayashanti, who is one of the star campaigners for Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC), has hit out against her own party and the lack of female representation in the welcome posters that were printed ahead of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's visit. Pointing out that the posters only had photos of male leaders, Vijayashanti also said that it was ironical of the Congress to question the lack of female representation in the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). “The people are asking whether the programme is only for men,” she said in a press release."Will only men share the dais during Sonia Gandhi's public meeting? If not, there should be photographs of women leaders too, in the publicity material," she added. Following Vijayashanti's statement on Tuesday evening, in what seems to be a quick fix by the TPCC, advertisements that were printed in the newspapers on Wednesday morning included Vijayashanti's photo amidst the photos of 14 other leaders, all men. UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi will be travelling to the state to address a public meeting in Medchal constituency in the outskirts of Hyderabad on November 23. According to the itinerary, the senior leader will be reaching the Begumpet airport at 5 pm on November 23 and will be travelling to Medchal via road. Medchal is located around 40 km from the state’s capital. She is expected to return to New Delhi on the same day by around 8 pm. Rahul Gandhi will also participate in the meeting along with several senior leaders from the TPCC. The Congress is expected to be banking on a commonly held sentiment among sympathisers of the party that it was Sonia Gandhi’s decision that led to the formation of Telangana. In November last year, after lying low for three years, veteran actress and former Member of Parliament M Vijayashanti returned to politics after a meeting with Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi. The actress-turned-politician was away from active politics since her defeat in 2014 elections. "Lady Amitabh", the nickname she earned for her action roles in Telugu films, had joined Congress on the eve of 2014 elections after she was suspended from Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) for anti-party activities. She also had a fallout with Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. While she has decided not to contest in the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections, Vijayashanti has said that she will campaign for the Congress-led alliance.

Politics

Konda Vishweshwar Reddy met Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi in Delhi a day after his resignation from K Chandrasekhar Rao's (KCR) Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

TNM Staff

Image: Twitter /Election adda

The political landscape in poll bound Telangana is witnessing major shifts as the richest Member of Parliament from the state, Konda Vishweshwar Reddy met Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi. This came a day after his resignation from K Chandrasekhar Rao's (KCR) Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). The MP from Chevella constituency in Ranga Reddy district of the state, was accompanied by RC Kuntia, Telangana Congress affairs in-charge and several other Congress leaders. On Tuesday, Vishweshwar Reddy had written a letter to KCR expressing his disappointment over the way the party had been functioning. Claiming that he would resign as MP soon, Vishweshwar Reddy said that his decision to quit the party was propelled by various considerations. After his meeting with Rahul Gandhi, Konda Vishweshwar Reddy announced that he would be joining the Congress officially on November 23 during Sonia and Rahul Gandhi's visit to the state. Addressing the media, RC Kuntia said that Rahul Gandhi was happy to welcome Konda Vishweshwar Reddy into the Congress given his track record as an MP. The party was also proud of Konda Vishweshwar Reddy's family's historic loyalty to the Congress, Kuntia added. Konda Vishweshwar Reddy is the grand son of former Andhra Deputy Chief Minister Konda Venkata Rangareddy. The district of Ranga Reddy, formerly known as Hyderabad Rural was renamed after this Congress man."The party has inducted people who were against Telangana and our ideology into the cabinet and given them more power and prominence. I feel people who were fighting for Telangana and share a common ideology, including me, are no longer needed in the party. A separate Telangana was the aspiration of the people and a noble cause, as the people felt that the injustice meted out to them in the combined state of Andhra Pradesh would end...You had asked me to join the TRS party in 2013. Acknowledging your leadership role in the history of the struggle, I did join the party. KT Rama Rao visited me many times and showed me the vision of a people-centric, ideology-based party...and hence, I joined with hope and enthusiasm," Konda said in his open letter. An engineer-turned-entrepreneur, Vishweshwar Reddy is one of the richest politicians in the state and as per his affidavit filed in 2014, he owned movable assets worth Rs 171,72,69,324 and his immovable assets worth Rs 37,66,97,400. However, the total figure in his affidavit including his spouse and three dependents that he had declared, were Rs 478,90,70,310 and Rs 49,15,34,900 bringing his total net assets Rs 528,06,05,210. He had joined the TRS in 2013. More defections? Kuntia dropped hints that more sitting MPs and MLAs are likely to leave the TRS and join Congress party ahead of the elections. He said, "Konda Reddy coming back into the fold is just the beginning, not the end. More legislators and MPs will join the Congress." Kuntia also took a dig at TRS and AIMIM alliance and said, "KCR doesn't qualify to be called secular after forging an alliance with AIMIM, party that is as communal as the BJP " Konda Vishweshwar Reddy speaking to the media said, "TRS party has taken a major ideological shift that I was unable to digest. TRS had become distant from the very people who helped the party during the bifurcation movement." When asked about the 'ideological shift' in the TRS, he said, "We were the party that represented people, students of Osmania University, employees and unemployed youth. It is no longer so. The voter base has eroded and the shift in ideology is something I could not tolerate." He made it clear that he would resign as a Member of Parliament as well. Answering a query on why he took the decision of leaving the party four years after getting elected, Konda Vishweshwar Reddy said that he had been fighting staying within the party, but in all likelihood TRS was on the way to becoming more undemocratic . The speculation is that Konda Vishweshwar Reddy will be the Congress candidate in upcoming Lok Sabha election.

Strike

The doctors, however, didn’t obstruct emergency and casualty, but opted out of elective services on Tuesday.

Haripriya Suresh

Junior doctors across Telangana protested on Tuesday against the government’s promise to provide Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) and PMPs (Private Medical Practitioners), who have undergone training, with government certificates. Dr Nidaullah, Joint Secretary of Telangana Junior Doctors Association, told TNM that the government is planning to register people who are not qualified. He said, “There are no criteria for being RMPs and PMPs and usually just pass class 10 and 12. And, the government wants to register them. How can they do that? Our healthcare system is already deteriorating.” Earlier this month, incumbent IT Minister and Sircilla MLA K T Rama Rao said that around 45,000 RMPs and PMPs had applied for training, and 20,000 had completed it. He reportedly said that there are qualified doctors who are confined to urban areas, but the government had not been able to set up Primary Health Centres in all villages. Responding to this, Nidaullah said, “The government is claiming that this is due to lack of doctors. When 2,000 government jobs were available, 20,000 doctors applied. They are ready to go to tribal areas; they are ready to work for the betterment of Telangana, for the betterment of people, but the government, for the sake of a vote bank, wants to register these RMPs and PMPs.” Protests were held in Osmania Medical College, Gandhi Medical College, NIMS Medical College, Hyderabad Medical College, Nizamabad Medical College, Niloufer Hospital Medical College and Government ENT Hospital, among others. The doctors did not obstruct the emergency and casualty but opted out of elective services. They were also not part of outpatient services and elective operations. When asked about the way forward, Nidaullah said that the protest was being held to bring the matter to the notice of the Telangana government. The decision on what to do going forward, he said, will only be taken after 10 days.

Telangana2018

The TDP has also promised to reopen Dharna Chowk and put pressure on the Centre to implement the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.

TNM Staff

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Telangana on Wednesday, released its manifesto for the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections in the state, scheduled to be held next month. The TDP has promised to focus on welfare and social justice, making special promises to the families of the people who lost their lives during the Telangana agitation for separate statehood. In a major announcement, the TDP claimed that it would work to transform 'Pragathi Bhavan', a massive complex built by incumbent Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao as his camp office, into a public hospital. Pragathi Bhavan comprises the Chief Minister's residence and office. The new complex spread over 10 acres of land and with about one lakh square feet of built-up space was built in 2016 close to the previous camp office-cum-residence of the CM in Begumpet and drew a lot of flak from opposition parties. Though the manifesto has not given any reason as to why the TDP wishes to convert the camp office into a hospital it would not be the first time that a political party has announced making drastic changes to a building constructed by its nemesis. Incidentally, the TDP maybe taking a leaf out of late Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa’s book. When she returned to power in 2011, Jayalalithaa converted the massive Tamil Nadu Secretariat built by her rival and former CM M Karunanidhi into a multi-specialty hospital. TDP has also promised that the Dharna Chowk in Hyderabad would reopen, adding that it will put pressure on the Union government to implement the Andhra Pradesh Bifurcation Act, 2014 along with other promises which were made at the time by the Centre. As part of its promise to martyrs, the TDP said that members of 1,200 families will be given a job each along with a pucca house and Rs 10 lakh. Stating that they would make sure that the martyrs get special recognition in Telangana's history, the party said that it would set up a permanent memorial in the state. As far as education was concerned, the TDP said that an additional budget of Rs 5,000 crore would be made for the infrastructural needs of educational institutes in Telangana. It also said that it would set up medical colleges, dental colleges and animal husbandry colleges in every district in a phase-wise manner. The party promised to set up educational institutions in the name of Telangana idealogue Professor Jayashankar. Promising skill development to unemployed youth, the TDP also said that a pension of Rs 3,000 per month would be released to them. The TDP said that a 'Sub Plan' would be introduced for the BC community, besides the existing SC/ST sub plan being implemented. The TDP also promised the categorisation of SCs to ensure judicious distribution of reservation among all SC communities, a long pending demand by the Madiga community. The party also promised to crackdown on belt shops selling illicit liquor, besides drinking water and toilets in each house in the state. For the farmers, the TDP said that a state-level Commission for Agricultural Price would be formed and farmers would be supplied with 24-hour power supply. They also said that the IT sector in Telangana would be expanded. “We are committed to implement promises in the manifesto completely,” the document states. A Mahakutami or grand alliance in being forged in the state led by the Congress, which includes the TDP, the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) and the CPI. As part of the deal, the Congress is contesting in 93 seats, leaving 14 to the TDP, 8 to the TJS and 3 to the CPI, and 1 to the Telangana Inti Party. Telangana goes to the polls on December 7 and results will be declared on December 11.

Mishap

The pilot, 30-year-old Bharat Bhushan, a resident of Delhi, is pursuing aviation training at the Rajiv Gandhi Aviation Academy at Begumpet.

TNM Staff

A major mishap was averted after a training aircraft flying from Begumpet airport crashed into a field in Mokila village near Hyderabad’s Shankarpally on Wednesday. While the pilot escaped with minor injuries, the left wing of the aircraft suffered heavy damage and came apart, according to the police. Police have not ascertained how the accident took place and haven’t registered a case yet. According to the Shankarpally police, the pilot, 30-year-old Bharat Bhushan, a resident of Delhi, is pursuing aviation training at the Rajiv Gandhi Aviation Academy at Begumpet. He landed the out-of-control flight at Mokila at around 11 am. In the incident, the pilot suffered injury to his left eye. Speaking to TNM, Shankarapally CI, N Lingaiah, said, “We are not sure what happened to the flight. We suspect that the aircraft developed some technical snag. A major accident was averted as the flight landed in a field when no one was around. Only the pilot suffered minor injuries.” The Inspector further added, “We are checking with the aviation academy. We haven’t registered a case yet,” he said. In a similar incident last year in October, an aircraft’s door fell off in a residential area in Lalaguda near Secunderabad and then crashed into a building. Fortunately, there were no casualties and no one suffered injuries. The plane was operated by the Telangana State Aviation Academy. Following this, the Director General of Civil Aviation launched an investigation into the incident. The results of this inquiry have not been made known yet. In September 2017, an Indian Air Force training aircraft had crashed near Hyderabad and the entire aircraft was engulfed in fire. The pilot had, however, safely ejected before the flight crashed at a secluded place 2 km from Hakimpet.

Telangana 2018

Chidambaram went on to question the TRS regarding the promises it made in healthcare, education, housing and more.

TNM Staff

Rajya Sabha MP, Congress leader and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram questioned the Telangana Rashtra Samiti government in Telangana on the promises it made when it came to power in 2014. “Although this is a State election, Telangana is one of five States that are holding elections in November-December. Hence, these elections have acquired a national dimension that cannot be ignored. The social, economic and political situations in which these elections are being held are important concerns for the electorate,” said Chidambaram in a statement. Stating the TRS is on one side and the Mahakutami or grand alliance led by Congress on another, he said that parties were coming together to “save and preserve the idea of India bequeathed to us by the founding fathers of our country.” Stating that the BJP is trying to divide India on the lines of religion, caste and language, Chidambaram said, “TRS and its leader have not stood up to or opposed the BJP. That stance puts them squarely in the column of the BJP. If the battle in the other four states is to defeat the BJP, the battle in Telangana is to defeat the TRS, which is a proxy of the BJP.” Furthermore, Chidambaram went on to question the TRS government on many of their promises, including the party’s promise of providing three acres of agricultural land to Dalit families, 12% reservation for members belonging to Scheduled Tribe communities and for minorities, 22 lakh two-bedroom houses, water supply to 1 crore acres of land, and a super speciality hospital in every district and a 100- bed hospital in every Assembly constituency. He also questioned the TRS government over the promises it made towards education -- free education from KG to PG, a government school in every mandal and a polytechnic college in every Assembly constituency, and regarding the Women’s University, Mining University, Cultural University and Tribal University in the state. Here are nine questions that Chidambaram posed to KCR. 1. What happened to the promise to provide 3 acres of agricultural land to each Dalit family? 2. What happened to the promise of 12 per cent reservation for scheduled tribes? What happened to the promise of 12 per cent reservation for minorities? 3. What happened to the promise of 22 lakh double bedroom houses? 4. What happened to the promise of 1 lakh jobs in government? 5. What happened to the promise of water supply to 1 crore acres of land? 6. What happened to the promise of a super speciality hospital in every district and a 100 bed hospital in every Assembly constituency? 7. What happened to the promise of free education from KG to PG? 8. What happened to the promise of a government school in every mandal and a polytechnic college in every Assembly constituency? 9. What happened to the promise of a Women's University, a Mining University, a Cultural University, and a Tribal University? “The TRS has grossly over-promised and grossly under-performed,” he wrote.

Politics

The Yellareddy meeting was the fourth public gathering the caretaker CM of Telangana addressed on Tuesday.

Charan Teja

All images: Charan Teja

The caretaker CM of Telangana, K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), who is aiming to recapture the state crown, is on a whirlwind tour across the state as part of the second phase of campaigning following the grand homam in his Erravalli farmhouse. On Tuesday, KCR addressed as many as four public gatherings – at Siddipeta, Huzurabad, Siricilla and Yellareddy constituencies, urging the voters to elect TRS back to power with a solid majority. At Yellareddy town, the meeting ground was decked with huge hoardings and thousands were seen flocking to the gathering on four-wheelers, autos and bikes. Even as artists sang songs exaggerating the development schemes of the TRS government, KCR arrived in a helicopter with people cheering him on. The local incumbent MLA Ravinder Reddy, caretaker agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and MP BB Patil accompanied KCR to the stage while showing the victory symbol amidst cheers. Srinivas Reddy and Ravinder Reddy wrapped up their speeches early, hailing the TRS and KCR’s “welfare” rule. Before handing over to KCR, Ravinder Reddy asked the gathering to re-elect TRS, saying, “Bless KCR once again with a solid majority to ensure development in the constituency.” KCR’s speech KCR praised Ravinder Reddy and agriculture minister Srinivas Reddy as the leaders who used the development projects. He said that they had utilised the funds of the ‘Mission Kakatiya’ project extensively in the area as it is an agriculture-oriented region. He said that Telangana is in the number one position in the country while stating that his was the first government to provide 24 hours power supply for agriculture. He said, “No state has achieved this much progress, we have given pensions to senior citizens, beedi workers and widows, we are sure we will increase the pensions.” Hailing his crown ‘Rythubandhu’ scheme as the greatest ever, he said, “The world is wondering about Rythubandhu, there is no such scheme in the world, we have disbursed the assistance without any discrepancies.” KCR said that the area would get 10 TMC irrigation water with projects in Mothe, Darmaraopet and Gujjul villages. He promised food processing units at each constituency in the state and claimed that the marketing would be done by DWCRA women groups. While claiming that his government doesn’t have caste and religion, he appealed to the people not to vote on the basis of caste. He said that he would work for the progress of Dalits and minorities along with the welfare of backward communities. Attacking the Congress, he said that the party hadn’t done anything in the state when it was in power. Targeting the tribal votes in the region, he said that his government had turned the hamlets into gram panchayats for self-governance of tribals. He also said, “We sought increase in reservations for tribals in the state, but the Centre hasn’t accorded it, we will fight with the Centre if required to achieve this.” Crowd reaction Even as KCR began his speech, some people broke the barricades near the media gallery, leaving journalists in chaos, and came close to the stage. Taking quick stock of the scene, KCR asked the police to allow the people to remain there. However, the incident raised concerns over security. However, this last meeting in Kamareddy seemingly put off the youth among the cadres as the leader’s speech didn’t contain his usual grandiose remarks nor did it address any of their problems. Soon after KCR’s speech, this reporter spoke to two youths near the venue who said they were graduates from the neighbouring Nagireddypet mandal. They claimed that KCR’s speech wasn’t up to his usual mark. One of them said, “I watched the three other speeches today, he repeated the same thing everywhere. He changed nothing except for a few lines like place, local leaders’ names, etc.” When asked what he had expected from KCR’s speech, the youth said, “He has showered sops on farmers and women, and talked about his achievements, but what is that he wants to offer unemployed youth except Rs 3,016. Is that enough? That’s not what unemployed youth need.” As this reporter travelled to Gandhari mandal in an auto of the TRS cadre who came to attend the KCR meeting, when asked if the people had come on their own, the auto driver said, “They’re all ‘looked after’ (suggesting they were paid for coming) by local leaders. In fact, tomorrow they may go to another meeting of another party.”

Telangana2018

Shabad Ramesh has been contesting from the Khairatabad Assembly constituency since 1992, and despite six unsuccessful attempts, he is determined this time to end his losing streak.

Nitin B.

Image: Nitin B

The Khairatabad Assembly constituency in Hyderabad is perhaps the most important seat in the city as Telangana heads to the polls on December 7. Keeping this in mind, the Congress has fielded its chief spokesperson in the state, Dr Sravan Dasoju, while the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) has fielded local strongman Danam Nagender. The BJP is not too far behind either and has put up incumbent MLA Chintala Ramachandra Reddy. However, amidst these political giants, Shabad Ramesh, an owner of a 'Kirana shop' or grocery store, is determined to try his luck. Ramesh has been contesting from the constituency since 1992, with six unsuccessful attempts to his credit, yet is determined to try his luck for the seventh continuous time on December 7. This year as well, he filed his nomination with the Election Commission on the first day itself, on November 12. Speaking to TNM, the 47-year-old says that he was born in the same area and did his schooling in Ameerpet. "It was in 1992, after the death of my father, that I discontinued a Diploma in Civil Engineering that I was pursuing in Mahbubnagarm and took over the family business. I have been running the shop since," Ramesh says. Ramesh says politics came to him at a young age as he was part of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and later also held a post in the Congress party. Asked about the issues in the constituency, Ramesh says, "There are the usual issues that most urban constituencies face, from roads to drainage systems to water, but perhaps the biggest challenge here is education.""Most government schools in the area teach in Telugu medium but we must move forward and adapt. I would make it a part of my manifesto to try and open as many English medium schools as I can in the constituency," he adds. Ramesh says that he is up against wealthy politicians and understands that his chances are tough. "Many people recognise me locally and they have been seeing my name on the ballot paper each time they are going. I have not even missed a bye-election. I have contested in 1994, 1999, 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2014. With EC bringing in a rule that our photos will also be placed next to our names on the ballot, I am confident that many will vote for me," he states. Speaking about his campaigning techniques, Ramesh says that he mainly relies on word of mouth. "Since I don't have a big budget like the other politicians, I also depend on pamphlets, where I print my manifesto and send them across in newspapers that go to houses in the constituency," he adds. Asked about his perseverance, Ramesh says, "There is no harm in trying. If I keep trying, I hope that someday, the people will give me a chance to serve them and do good to society.""I will try until my death and I'm hopeful about my future," he adds, with a wide smile.

Telangana 2018

Family of Gattaiah, a supporter of Nallala Odelu, feel betrayed after the leader has allegedly ignored their concerns after his death.

Balakrishna Ganeshan

“When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers,” this African proverb fits Gattaiah’s family, who have seemingly become victims of local politics in Telangana’s Chennur. The residents of Indaram, a small village in Chennur, Mancherial district are mourning the death of Regunta Gattaiah, a resident of Indaram, supporter of Chennur sitting Telangana Rashtra Samithi MLA, Nallala Odelu. After Odelu was denied the Chennur seat, Gattaiah threatened immolation and accidently burnt himself. Gattaiah’s death has become a lesson for the blind supporters of political leaders, and has also become an electoral issue as the Bahujan Samaj Party kicked off their campaign from his residence. On September 12, Gattaiah, a Rural Medical Practitioner doused himself with petrol and threatened suicide when Pedapalle MP Balka Suman visited Indaram for a road laying foundation ceremony, and also as part of his electoral campaign. Gattaiah was agitated over the fact that the TRS offered the Chennur seat to Balka Suman and not to Odelu. According to eyewitnesses, when the crowd had gathered to meet Suman, Gattaiah barged into the crowd carrying a bottle of petrol. He then allegedly doused himself with the petrol, which spilled on others around him, too. However, in a freakish accident, when the women in the crowd were giving Arathi to Suman, the fire engulfed Gattaiah. Sixteen others also suffered injuries, including a policeman who was providing security to Suman. Though the residents allege that the incident was an accident, Gattaiah’s family aren’t convinced, and demand a thorough probe into the incident. Fueling their suspicion, Suman who witnessed the entire episode, alleged that someone in the crowd deliberately flicked a matchstick on Gattaiah. “We want a CBI inquiry into the incident,” demands Regunta Tirupathi, Gattaiah’s younger brother. Gattaiah’s nephew, Regunta Surya adds, “It was a planned killing. My uncle is not a coward, he just wanted to threaten Suman, but someone in the crowd lit him up.” ‘We are the victims of politics’ In the political game between Balka Suman and Odelu, Gattaiah’s sacrifice had no meaning, as Odelu, who had initially started a rebellion, quickly joined hands with Suman after TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao’s intervention. Gattaiah is survived by his wife, Vijaya and his two children. Vijaya says, “I lost my husband because of this politics. I feel that we are victims of politics.” Sensing trouble, Vijaya says that she doesn’t want to speak further about politics and hopes that someone provides her with a government job. She works at the local Zilla Parishad school as a sweeper and is uncertain of how she can survive without a permanent job. “My only concern is that I have to take care of my daughter and son. It would be great if someone provides me with a permanent job in the school. Presently, as an outsourced employee, I only get Rs 2,500 every month, and as it is a contract job, the income is not regular; we sometimes get money only after three-four months,” Vijaya rues. Relationship of Gattaiah and Odelu According to the residents, Gattaiah as a social worker would often organise blood donation camps. During one such occasion, he invited Odelu to inaugurate the campaign, which led to a mentor and mentee relationship between the two. “Gattaiah lost his father at a young age and didn’t have any godfather to help him. He made his living on his own,” recalls a teary-eyed Ammakka, Gattaiah’s mother. According to Surya, once Gattaiah fell ill and he didn’t have money for his medical expenses. “Odelu gave Rs 20,000 for the treatment. Since then he (Gattaiah) became his loyal supporter,” he says. Post the death of Gattaiah After a week of availing treatment at Yashoda Hospital, Gattaiah who suffered 70% burns injuries, succumbed on September 18. After paying the medical expenses and the expense of his funeral, Odelu never came to meet them, Gattaiah’s family alleges. “He never came back, and never checked upon us. He didn’t even give any compensation for us,” laments, Gattaiah’s wife, Vijaya. As compensation, Balka Suman gave the family Rs 5 lakh, while Odelu who promised of Rs 10 lakh never lived up to it. As the death of Gattaiah is still afresh in the memories of his family and children, Tirupathi appeals to politicians to not play ‘death politics’. “Political leaders are making our tragedy a leverage for their political agenda. Everyone is coming, taking photos and making statements using my brother, but nobody is helping us financially. They are playing cheap politics. My brother didn’t make a penny by being in this useless politics,” he laments.

TRS’ first family file affidavit: KTR’s assets increase by whopping 400pc

Potato-sized kidney stone removed from Telangana man at Hyd hospital

Telangana polls: 3,584 nominations filed with EC, Congress highest with 300

TRS to play role in national politics after state polls: KCR says on Federal Front

'Friendly contest': Allies TJS, Cong file nomination from same Telangana constituency

Congress supporters burn party flags after party gives ticket to TRS defector

Ground report: This Telangana village on a 900-day protest vows to vote against TRS

'Cong candidate offered Rs 25 lakh to cancel AIMIM rally,’ says Owaisi

'TRS has inducted people against Telangana': MP Vishweswar Reddy resigns from party

Trio on bike crash into Metro pillar in Hyderabad, die on the spot

Meet Chandramukhi, the Telangana trans woman contesting the upcoming polls

'Why no women on welcome posters for Sonia Gandhi?' Cong leader Vijayashanti asks

Telangana's richest MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy leaves TRS, to join Congress

Telangana docs protest over KTR’s plan to certify registered, pvt medical practitioners

Will turn Telangana CM camp office into public hospital: TDP manifesto

Training aircraft crashes in field near Hyderabad, pilot sustains minor injuries

What happened to promise of 1 lakh govt jobs? Chidambaram poses 9 questions to KCR

Telangana polls: Good turnout at Yellareddy meeting but KCR fails to impress youth

Mission 2018: Hyderabad Kirana shop owner is hoping it’s 7th time lucky this election

'We are victim of politics': Family of TRS worker, who killed self for leader, in distress