Hyderabad: With mixed feelings of excitement and hope for a better future, voters made a beeline for polling booths across Telangana region on Wednesday to elect the first government of the newborn state.
The enthusiasm was more pronounced in the northern Telangana districts, compared to the state capital Hyderabad and other southern parts.
“It is a historic election. I am happy to be part of this poll in which we are electing the first government of our own state,” said Srinivasulu Chary, a voter in Nizamabad.
Chary a technical worker, was hopeful that all the injustice, which he said Telangana suffered for last six decades will be undone.
“I am hopeful of a better future for my children”, he said.
Like Chary, many others were now waiting for June 2, when Telangana will officially become 29th state of India.
In neighbouring Medak, where Telangana Rashtra Samiti President K. Chandrasekhar Rao was contesting for both the Lok Sabha and assembly, an air of celebration prevailed.
“We have waited for a long, long time for this day. Now we have destiny in our hands. We can elect our own people,” Lakshma Reddy, a farmer in Gajwel, said. “I am looking forward to a big change”.
Chandrasekhar Rao himself voted in Chintamadaka village of Siddipet assembly constituency in Medak district. “It is a matter of great joy that I am voting in Telangana state now,” he said after casting his vote. KCR, as the TRS leader is popularly known is being seen as the Chief Minister of Telangana if his party wins the polls.
In Karimnagar, which was also a hot bed of the Telangana movement, people were largely voting on the issue of the separate state.
“We have to see who will be good for our state’s future”, said G. Rukmini, a farmer labourer in Sricilla. “I voted for a leader who can solve our problems”, she added.
But in Hyderabad, Telangana was not such a big factor. If, in the Muslim dominated old city, the local Muslim party Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) continued to be the preferred name as a bulwark against BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, in the other parts people from Seemandhra region were voting for candidates who promised security to them.
“This time we are primarily vote against Narendra Modi because we don’t want fascist forces to come to power in New Delhi”, said Shahnawaz Hussain, a businessman in Charminar area, the citadel of MIM. “Our vote is for Asaduddin Owaisi (sitting MIM MP) as he can stand up to the BJP”, he said.
But in Malkajgiri Lok Sabha constituency at the other end of the city, where voters from Seemandhra were in a decisive position, talks revolved around how secure their future would be in Telangana state.
“People at large are edgy as they fear that the next government in Telangana will not protect our interests,” government employee Sheshagiri Rao said.
“We want at least some representatives to speak for us,” he said. Many like Sheshagiri Rao were hopeful that next MP from Malkajgiri will be their man. However it was not easy as there were at least three major candidates vying for the Seemandhra vote.
In other urban areas of Hyderabad, however, first time voters were more concerned with job opportunities, economic development and infrastructure. “I wish our next government would pay attention to these serious issues,” said Ashwini Kumar, a software professional working in an IT company in Hitech city.
