TRS will romp home in Huzurabad with a good majority: Harish Rao

Huzurabad: Thanneeru Harish Rao, senior Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leader and Telangana Finance Minister, exuded confidence that TRS candidate would win hands-down in the by-election to the Huzurabad Assembly constituency scheduled for October 30, this Saturday.

"People are with us and we are very confident that our candidate Gellu Srinivas Yadav will win the by-election," Harish Rao, who is the troubleshooter for TRS and known for his poll management skills, told Bizz Buzz in an exclusive interaction here.

The Huzurabad Assembly seat, located in Karimnagar district of Telangana, fell vacant on June 12 this year after senior TRS leader and six-time legislator Eatala Rajender resigned from the seat after he was dropped from the Telangana Cabinet over allegations of illegal land dealings.Rajender, who played a key role in the Telangana movement alongside TRS supremo Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Raoand held Finance and Health portfolios in the Telangana Cabinet, had later joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He is now contesting on the BJP ticket in the by-polls while TRS has fielded Gellu Srinivas Yadav, its student wing chief. Congress, which is also in fray, also fielded its State student wing chief Balmoori Venkat Narsing Rao. But Congress' presence is nominal as the main contest is between TRS and BJP.

"TRS has won in Huzurabad before Eatala, during Eatala and will now win the seat easily after Eatala's departure. TRS got over 42000 majority in the last polls. We will get a good majority this time too," the Minister said. He played the key in protecting the TRS cadre in Huzurabad after Eatala's exit.

According to him, TRS candidate is a student leader which is an added advantage for the party as youth are getting attracted towards it.Further, Eatala is also facing an anti-incumbency factor as he miserably failed to build houses for the poor, he added.

Rao alleged that Eatala neglected the development of the constituency as well. "The constituency has not witnessed the development it deserves. People here made Eatala a legislator six times. He should take blame for the lack of development in the constituency," he maintained.

He further said: "Huzurabad people are craving for development. Moreover, poor people here need houses. Eatala can't do that as he is in the Opposition now and so will not become a minister. State government's support is key for the development of the constituency. The Chief Minister's co-operation is also important. So, TRS can't only develop the constituency, not Eatala".

Saying that people here are seeking a government medical college, the senior TRS leader said that the party had promised to fulfill the people's wish. "We have promised to set up a government medical college here. This will be possible only if TRS wins," he said.

The Minister further alleged that Eatala had grabbed lands of Dalits and backward classes.

On the issue of self-respect raised by Eatala, he said that the BJP candidate had no right to talk about self-respect. "He mortgaged self-respect in Delhi and joined BJP to protect his own assets. Furthermore, he aligned with BJP which brought in regressive laws against farmers, thus damaging the interests of farmers".

According to Rao, there is a serious anti-BJP wave in Huzurabad as well, as people are very unhappy with rising petrol and diesel prices.

Huzurabad people are craving for development. Moreover, poor people here need houses. Eatala can't do that as he is in the Opposition now and so will not become a minister. State government's support is key for the development of the constituency

- Thanneeru Harish Rao, Finance Minister & Senior TRS leader