Secunderabad, one of the 17 Lok Sabha constituencies in Telangana state, is considered a primarily urban constituency. The Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituencies are Musheerabad (Bharat Rashtra Samiti), Amberpet (BRS), Khairatabad (BRS), Jubilee Hills (BRS), Sanasnagar (BRS), Nampally (AIMIM), Second Consists of the Bard (BRS) parliamentary segment. The constituency will hold its fourth phase of voting on May 13.
Current MP: G Kishan Reddy Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Main candidates: G Kishan Reddy (BJP), Dhanam Nagender (Congress), T Padma Rao Goud (BRS)
political dynamics
BJP faces tough three-way battle: The BJP has been ruling the Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency since 2014. At the height of Modi’s support in 2014, the BJP’s Bandaru Dattatreya won by a huge margin of 2.54 billion votes. In 2019, the saffron party managed to retain the seat, but the vote margin decreased dramatically to just about 62,000 votes. The party is aiming for a hat-trick in 2024, but the declining margin of victory in 2019 remains a cause for concern.
The BJP has once again fielded Union Tourism Minister and state BJP president G. Kishan Reddy, and it is widely believed that the party is well placed to win, mainly due to Prime Minister Modi’s growing popularity. There is also a broad consensus among many voters that while Congress or even the BRS are decent choices, this is a national election to strengthen Modi’s influence over the centre.
Moreover, apart from its focus on development and national security, there is also widespread appreciation for the Modi government’s many plans and initiatives. Considering the urban structure and diverse demographics of this constituency, the influence of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Hindutva politics is significant. The majority of voters are immigrants from northern India, forming a solid base of support for the Bharatiya Janata Party. The party also enjoys support from the middle and upper middle classes. Moreover, in recent years the party has made significant inroads among backward castes. Religious polarization among voters will play an advantageous role for the Bharatiya Janata Party in this constituency.
Reddy, who is the state Bharatiya Janata Party president, could not spend much time in Secunderabad as he was also campaigning across the state.
Although there is anti-incumbent sentiment against Reddy, it is not expected to have a major negative impact on the Bharatiya Janata Party’s prospects. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah also campaigned here.
Secunderabad is also home to people from states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan, and the Bharatiya Janata Party has recruited people like Suresh Gopi and Tamilisai Sounderarajan to woo these language groups. Supported leaders.
Will BRS join Spoilsport? Complicating the fight for the BJP is the idea that the BRS is gaining ground here. Of the seven assembly divisions in Secunderabad, the BRS has empowered six of them, one of which was handed over to AIMIM last year.
BRS also fielded a heavyweight from the seat. Padma Rao Goud was first elected to Parliament in 2004 and was subsequently elected to the Parliament in 2014, 2018 and 2023. He served as Minister of Excise, Sports and Youth Services from 2014 to 2018 and as Deputy Speaker of Parliament from 2018 to 2023. He has been tasked by BRS leader K. Chandrasekhar Rao to oust the BJP from Secunderabad. The Pink Party has made protection of Telangana’s development and interests in the Congress its main poll policy.
BRS sitting president and former IT Industries Minister KT Rama Rao has called on voters to elect 10-12 BRS candidates to Parliament in the upcoming elections to stop investment outflow from Hyderabad. . Meanwhile, the party has also reminded voters of the work it has done for Hyderabad-Secunderabad during his tenure in government.
BRS is also attacking Reddy. The party is trying to turn the fight in Secunderabad into a fight that focuses on local issues, which could give it an edge over the Bharatiya Janata Party. However, this strategy does not seem to be working well in the field.
On the ground, some say that the BRS has infiltrated the BJP’s voter base this time, causing significant damage. However, this could pave the way for Congress to win in Secunderabad. The fact that some seats in Telangana are increasingly favoring the BRS is a noteworthy trend, although the results may not be immediate.
The fate of Congress hangs in the balance: The Congress should have had an advantage across Telangana given that it swept to power by winning the most seats in the state assembly just six months ago, but Lok Sabha polls suggest otherwise. The party already faces some degree of anti-incumbency.
The Congress is focusing on Secunderabad as it is an urban constituency in the Hyderabad region. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is believed to have set a mission to defeat the BJP and BRS here. The party has fielded Dhanam Nagender, the incumbent BRS MLA from Khairatabad.
Mr. Najender is seen as a political turncoat who quit the BRS even though he was elected by the people of Khairatabad Assembly six months ago. For this reason, he is seen as a BRS supporter who is incapable of attracting parliamentary votes. The Congress relies mainly on the votes of the minority Muslims and Christians, but also hopes that the SC and some backward classes will jump on the bandwagon. However, in a three-way battle, this may not be a viable strategy.
Voters have already started complaining about the Congress government in the state, alleging that although the party promised a lot, most of its promises remain unfulfilled.
Congress and Najender are relying heavily on the anti-incumbent movement against Reddy. But this may not be the best strategy in the face of what appears to be a Modi wave in Telangana. Moreover, Congress is facing a three-way battle, and according to ground intelligence, it seems focused on defeating BRS somehow. This is despite the fact that the Bharatiya Janata Party has an advantage in the constituency. Perhaps CM Reddy is more concerned that the BRS will consolidate its position in Secunderabad with the Congress victory and that it may create problems for the Congress at the state level.
major issues
Agnipath scheme: There have been massive protests in Secunderabad ever since the Agni Path 2022 scheme was announced by the government. Train services had to be suspended in areas affected by the violence as a precaution. During the protests, many people were injured and one person died. The Agniveer project has been controversial and controversial across the United States. Although the protests have subsided, they are being raised at the Center as an issue against the Bharatiya Janata Party and will have an impact on the elections.
Soaked: Flooding during the monsoon paralyzes cities. Pothole-ridden roads are a death trap for commuters and highlight poor sewage systems. It also causes areas to become underwater, creating a breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitoes.
Road connectivity: Secunderabad’s roads and public infrastructure are stretched to their limits, struggling to cope with the city’s burgeoning population and ever-increasing number of vehicles. Due to inadequate public transport, local residents are often stuck in traffic jams and have no choice but to rely on private cars. There has been talk of expanding the city’s road network, but concrete action is not yet in sight. Adding to the problem, road repairs have been neglected, leaving many streets in a dilapidated state, especially after heavy rains. Even basic maintenance, such as repairing roads after drainage work, seems to have been sidelined.
pollution: Secunderabad faces serious challenges of noise, air and water pollution. The Musi River, which is historically important to the city, is heavily polluted with sewage and industrial waste. Air pollution levels are also a concern, with some areas recording high pollution readings. Residents have reported unpleasant odors and air quality issues.
Traffic jam: Secunderabad is grappling with the challenges of increasing congestion and informal settlements. The influx of opportunity-seeking immigrants has led to the growth of slums throughout the old city, straining existing infrastructure and resources. Illegal encroachment on public lands further exacerbates the problem and disrupts the delivery of critical government services. The Musi River, already plagued by pollution, is also under pressure from erosion, with structures of various sizes appearing along its banks.
unemployment: Lack of employment opportunities is a pressing concern in Secunderabad, especially among the youth. Telangana state faces high unemployment rates and many residents of Secunderabad are dissatisfied with the region’s limited prospects. The government’s repeated postponement of recruitment efforts further complicates the problem. As a result, some educated young people who migrated to the capital have returned to their villages, seeking alternative livelihoods in agriculture and pastoralism.
Demographics
Total Voters: 19,68,276
social composition
SC: 161,399 (8.2%)
ST: 27,556 (1.6%)
geographical composition
Urban voters: 1,968,276 (100%)
Local voters: 0
religious composition
Hinduism: 72.6
Muslim: 27.4%
