Politics

Telangana Elections: Sirpur’s Political Landscape

7 months ago
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Sirpur Seat Telangana

Sirpur, the numerically first constituency in Telangana, is located between Pedda Vagu and the Pranahitha River and is currently witnessing a fierce political battle. While most constituencies in Telangana see a contest primarily between BRS, Congress, and BJP, Sirpur stands out with a quadruple contest, as the BSP also poses a formidable challenge. RS Praveen Kumar, the chief of BSP Telangana and a retired IPS officer renowned for his contributions to reforming gurukul education, is vying for this seat.

The key contenders include the incumbent BRS MLA Koneru Konappa, BJP’s Palvai Harish Babu, and Congress candidate Raavi Srinivas. Our South One Team recently visited the constituency to delve into the unfolding political dynamics in Sirpur. This is the current political scenario in Sirpur, where the electoral landscape is more complex than in many other Telangana constituencies.

Koneru Konappa

Koneru Konappa, who belongs to the Kamma community and is the current sitting MLA of Sirpur, emerged victorious in the 2004, 2014, and 2018 elections. Notably, he secured wins from three different parties during these terms, Congress in 2004, BSP in 2014, and BRS in 2018. Over these years, Konappa has developed strong ties with the local community, whether positive or negative. However, despite his political dominance, he faces a significant challenge in the upcoming election from both the BSP and the BJP, with Congress seemingly trailing in the race.

The Sirpur constituency hosts the largest industry, Sirpur Paper Mill, which employed around 2000 individuals until its closure in 2018 due to financial losses. Following BRS’s victory in the 2018 elections, the government’s efforts led to the takeover of the mill by JK Paper Ltd., resulting in its reopening in 2019. Despite Konappa’s attempts to revive the paper mill, criticism arises from locals who claim that a significant portion of the workforce comprises individuals from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and other states. Some locals were told they had raised this concern with Konappa, but there appears to be a lack of focus on the issue

While the public expresses satisfaction with welfare schemes such as Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, and Kalyana Lakshmi, mixed opinions emerge regarding development initiatives. Rural residents, in particular, criticise Konappa for inadequate infrastructure, including poor roads and facilities. Konappa has been running a ‘daily free meals’ programme in Kagaznagar town through his charitable trust for the past few years, providing food for hundreds of people daily. However, allegations of corruption from political opponents loom over Konappa. Furthermore, his roots from Andhra Pradesh has become a focal point for opposition parties, particularly the BSP, which portrays him as a non-local to Telangana.

During interactions with the public, opinions vary, with some emphasising a contest between BRS and BSP and others highlighting a BJP vs. BSP scenario. The majority of people are expressing their opinion that they want leadership change this time. Some locals believe that Konappa has the capability to sway political dynamics in his favour in the last two or three days before the elections.

Also Read: Telangana Elections: Kodangal Ground Report

Palvai Harish Babu

Palvai Harish Babu belongs to the Velama community and is a professional doctor with a strong political background. His father, Palvai Purushothama Rao, and mother Palvai Rajyalaxmi previously served as Sirpur MLAs. Palvai Purushotham Rao has a good reputation in the public, which is a significant asset for Palvai Harish Rao. Supporters of Harish Babu are stating that he is a young, local resident with a high level of education and a solid political foundation, all of which are considered positive attributes.

In the 2018 assembly elections, he garnered 59,052 votes, while Konappa secured victory with 24,036 votes. In the previous elections, Harish Babu contested from the Congress, but this time he is running as a BJP candidate. Supporters of Harish Babu express confidence that the Sirpur public will give him a chance this time. There is an active campaign emphasizing that Harish Babu is a local candidate compared to BRS and BSP candidates. With the BJP focusing on the BC agenda and promising SC-classification, they anticipate gaining votes from these communities.

RS Praveen Kumar

RS Praveen Kumar resigned from his IPS position in 2021 and joined the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). During his inaugural public meeting in Nalgonda after affiliating with BSP, the huge crowd for the public meeting surprised all political parties. Praveen Kumar, belongs to the Madiga community, is contesting the Sirpur general assembly seat, seemingly aiming to prove he is a leader for all, as all sections of people wish him to see as a leader. His popularity extends across various communities, with people viewing him as a potential leader beyond his Dalit identity.

Praveen Kumar’s reputation as the former Gurukul secretary has contributed significantly to his standing. Even Chief Minister KCR commended him in the assembly for his contributions to the education system. This has led to Praveen Kumar gaining a heroic image, particularly among marginalized sections of society. As the founder of the Swaeros organization, he has established a robust network throughout Telangana.

During interactions with locals, one revealed that initially, members of his BC community were hesitant to support Praveen Kumar’s candidature under the BSP banner. However, upon learning about his background and achievements, they were convinced and now actively support him in the elections. Students, inspired by Praveen Kumar, are voluntarily participating in the election campaign. Notably, individuals from Uttar Pradesh and other states are also joining his campaign to show their support.

Praveen Kumar’s past fight for unemployed youth during the TSPSC paper leakage issue has garnered him additional support from the youth. RS Praveen Kumar sets out a narrative here, even though Telangana got freedom from the dominance of Andhra rulers, Sirpur is still in the hands of a leader who belongs to the Andhra dominant section. He is assuring locals to bring them back into jobs with good salaries in Sirpur Mill, establish a canteen, and have a health policy, he envisions making Sirpur a model constituency. Supporters of RS Praveen Kumar confidently say they are beating Konappa in elections and winning, citing his widespread appeal and promises for positive change in Sirpur. The recent survey conducted by the media organization ‘Newstap’ also predicts the victory of RS Praveen Kumar in Sirpur.

Raavi Srinivas

Raavi Srinivas, the Congress candidate from Sirpur and the nephew of BRS candidate Koneru Konappa, secured the fourth position in the 2014 elections with 19,359 votes contesting from the TDP ticket. In the 2018 elections, he once again secured the fourth position, receiving just 5,379 votes, contesting from the BSP. In the current elections, in comparison to candidates from the BRS, BJP, and BSP, Raavi Srinivas’s candidature has not garnered much attention among the Sirpur public. The candidates from BRS, BJP, and BSP seem to be ignoring the Congress, focusing their efforts on targeting each other.

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