Yogendra Yadav: No hung Assembly in Telangana, clear win for Congress

Hyderabad: “It is not just a wave that the Congress party has generated in Telangana. It is a storm,” said Yogendra Yadav, psephologist and national convenor of Bharat Jodo Abhiyaan. Yadav, who has toured 12 constituencies across the state, asserted that his statements are clear indicators of the current political sentiments among the people of Telangana.

“There will be no hung Assembly. The ensuing elections in Telangana will show that the government cannot fool people all the time. It will show that money also does not work all the time,” he said while speaking at a press conference in Hyderabad, after a comprehensive tour of the state. Yadav emphasised that Telangana people want to vote for change.

Goodies for votes

Although it is commonplace that money and liquor, though illegal, are a part of the standard electioneering process, Yogendra Yadav said that this election will be different. He said that money can no more swing votes in favour of a party.

“The people of Telangana have understood that the BJP will be strengthened if they vote for Bharat Rashtra Samithi. This is clear to them,” said Yogendra Yadav, speaking about the allegations of a backdoor alliance between the BJP and BRS.

Discontent and disconnect

The issue of unemployment looms heavy over the people of the state, he said and added that the lack of government jobs in the state is one of the major reasons for discontent among the youth.

“Schemes like Rythu Bandhu are more beneficial for large land owners than for families owning small quantities of land. Although Dalit Bandhu provides benefits for the marginalised, those many who don’t get them are left with heartburn,” he said.

Kiran Vissa of the Telangana People Joint Action Committee, who was also present with Yogendra Yadav, “Those who got Dalit Bandhu are also not happy. To receive the Rs 10 lakhs that the state government has allotted for them, they have to spend Rs 2 lakhs as bribes for its release. This has caused a lot of ill will.”

Uneven development

Hyderabad has seen development but only on the side of Hi-Tech city. Vissa explained, “There has been migration from rural areas to Hyderabad but they end up staying in the slums of the city. On one side there is a part of the city which is very developed and on the other side even creating and maintaining basic infrastructure remains a challenge.” These discrepancies and discontent have led to a demand for change, he added.

Neglecting health

Speaking about the troubles faced by the citizens during the Covid-19 pandemic, Vissa said that the nodal centre of the entire state was only Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad, which caused a lot of problems for the poor.

“People from all over the state were forced to travel to Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad while being ill. Those who lost their near and dear ones due to delay and lack of hospital beds consider that phase during the pandemic a failure of government administration,” he said.

Door for BJP

BJP is considering Telangana as another door for entry into South India but that door will close on December 3, said Yogendra Yadav.

“I am making this statement as a political activist and I will be coming to Hyderabad again. The election results of December 3 of Telangana will set the mood for the 2024 general elections. I am very confident that it will be a landslide victory for Congress. Every wave is later recognised but when it is happening many are not willing to see the signs,” he said.

Yadav said he is basing his statements on ground reports from different civil society organisations that were a part of the Bharat Jodo Abhiyaan.