Gangaputra community upset with BJP with under-representation in third MLA list

Hyderabad: In anticipation of the upcoming Telangana State Assembly elections, the Gangaputra community in Telangana is expressing discontent with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) even before the party releases its final list of candidates.

On Thursday, the BJP released the third list of 35 candidates for the Telangana Assembly elections 2023. The BJP has given only one ticket to Poosa Raju from the Gangaputra community in the Malkajgiri constituency.

This community, which comprises over 18 lakh individuals in Telangana and falls within the OBC category, ranks fifth or sixth of the most populous communities among the OBCs.

Prior to the elections, the community requested two out of the five seats in the Hyderabad district, specifically in Uppal, Amberpet, Musheerabad, and Malkajgiri. This request is based on the significant population of the community in 25 Assembly segments. Apart from Hyderabad, the Gangaputra community also has a substantial presence in Karimnagar.

Gangaputra community planning anti-BJP campaign

Reports suggest that MP and former BJP President Bandi Sanjay was one of the individuals who opposed the community’s proposal. As a result, the community is now planning an extensive counter-campaign against BJP candidates in these Assembly segments, including door-to-door campaigning in Hyderabad and Karimnagar districts. This move is likely to impact both Congress and BJP candidates in these areas.

“We have asked for seats for our candidates in Secunderabad, Uppal, Malkajgiri and Amberpet Assembly constituencies. Several requests were made for Eatala Rajender, Kishan Reddy and other leaders. But there has been no response,” said Shankar, Gangaputra community state president.

It may be noted that in the Secunderabad segment, Mekala Sarangapani from BJP will be contesting against T Padma Rao from BRS and Adam Santhosh Kumar from Congress.

In Uppal, NVSS Prabhakar will be contesting against B Laxma Reddy from BRS and Paramesh Reddy from Congress. In Amberpet, Krishna Yadhav will be contesting against Rohin Reddy in Congress and K Venkatesh of BRS.

In Malkajgiri, while Mynampally Hanumantha Rao will be contesting from Congress, the Gangaputra community has asked for a BJP ticket for Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) national treasurer PM Sai Prasad.

Internal discord in BJYM

In the previous weeks, the BJP’s youth wing has split into two groups over the demand for the Malkajgiri Assembly constituency ticket. BJYM state president A Bhanu Prakash and BJYM national treasurer Sai Prasad, both residents of Malkajgiri, are seeking the ticket from their native constituency, splitting the unit into two.

According to the community leaders, though they did not ask for the Musheerabad constituency, the party has given a seat for Poosa Raju who will be fielding against Muta Gopal from BRS. Now the community is demanding at least two more seats for their candidates in the constituencies they have asked for.