Interview: Naveen Yadav discusses improving Jubilee Hills’ roads, power lines and drainage, community outreach

Hyderabad: “Development of Jubilee Hills is my main aim,” says the Congress candidate for the upcoming bypoll, Naveen Yadav. He reinforces this mantra with the people he meets during his padyatra in every lane and by lane of the constituency.

The Jubilee Hills by-election is a prestige issue for the Congress Party.

With the constituency also being the stronghold of former Member of Parliament Mallu Ravi and MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, the VIP movement has seen a major rise. A wave of MPs, MLAs, party presidents and party workers are visiting all corners of the constituency, urging people to vote for Naveen Yadav. Chief minister Revanth Reddy is also expected to rally for Naveen Yadav.

All India Majlis-E-Ittedhadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and Hyderabad MP, Asaduddin Owaisi, has already visited the Jubilee Hills constituency twice recently. Sources said he will be making more visits and talking to the people about voting for Naveen Yadav.

Speaking to Naveen Yadav during his padyatra stretch in Borabanda, NewsMeter asked him about his plans for Jubilee Hills and the party’s strategy to secure the maximum votes.

Here are some excerpts from the interview:

NewsMeter: What is your plan for the development of Jubilee Hills?

Naveen Yadav: The first thing I want to do is establish a good intermediate college in this area, as the students here have to travel to other areas to study. In the surveys my team and I have carried out in the last 20 years, we found that the higher education facilities are lacking here. I want to get a good educational institute here so that the people of this area benefit from it.

The other development plans are improving the roads and the drainage facilities.

The drainage is 20 to 30 years old; it needs to be improved. This elevation of the area is uneven. The development of housing areas has contributed to the issue of drainage overflowing from the higher areas to being collected in the low-lying areas. This has to be worked on immediately as it has been neglected for a long time.

NM: People here have been approaching you on your campaign trail. What do they want from their elected representative?

Naveen Yadav: Apart from the roads and drainage complaints, another important aspect is the high-tension wire roads in some parts of the constituency. They have been causing power fluctuations and, in some past cases, have resulted in deaths.

Here too, the uneven terrain is causing too many low-hanging wires, and these need to be rectified as soon as possible. My focus will also be on this aspect. The electricity department, so far, has done some work, but there is more to be done.

NM: There are 33 per cent Muslims in this constituency. How is your team and the Congress Party reaching out to them?

Naveen Yadav: We have covered 70 per cent of the area, and there have been meetings at every booth level in which even the senior leaders have also participated. We also had a meeting with leaders and members of the minority community, and we are in touch with them.

Padyatra and consultations have been going on, and the outreach is maximum. I have asked the community members to give me a chance, and I will work for them.

NM: AIMIM is supporting you. MP Asaduddin Owaisi's participation in your campaign is a popular topic in the town. Do you think this will help convince the Muslim voters?

Naveen Yadav: Asaduddin sir is participating in the campaign, as per the arrangement with the Congress Party and he is doing his bit to reach out to the voters. Similarly, Congress MLAs, ministers and MPs have been given the same task and are doing their due diligence. All of them are trying to reach out to the public in their capacity.

NM: The Opposition BRS has been levelling allegations against you and the Congress Party. What is your response?

Naveen Yadav: The Congress party and all its ministers and leaders are out here to support me. I think that is something very good for me. They are countering the campaign of the Opposition, and we are all working to convince our voters that a change will bring them the development they want. I will implement all the schemes of the Congress Party. I have been in this locality for a long time, and everyone knows me. I am asking them to give me a chance now.

We are all reaching out to people in every corner of the constituency. My team and I, from morning to evening, are in every corner of the constituency to ensure that no one is missed.

Background

Jubliee Hills constituency has a mixed population with 30 percent being high-rise buildings and apartments and 70 percent are bastis. This by-election is the most watched as many YouTubers, social media influencers are on the ground capturing every detail. Apart from the presence of political parties, VVIP leaders and media there are people of the constituency who are awed by the focus that they are recieving during the election time.