BRS banks on legacy, Cong pins hopes on ‘Op Akarsh’

Secunderabad: The eight civilian wards of the Secunderabad Cantonment have emerged as pivotal battlegrounds for all parties vying to triumph in the Cantonment assembly by-election. These wards wield significant influence in shaping the fate of candidates fielded by parties.Notably, the BRS boasts a formidable presence across all eight SCB wards, a legacy fostered since 1994 by the late former MLA G Sayanna, a five-time MLA affiliated with both the Telugu Desam and later the BRS. Following Sayanna’s passing in Feb last year, the followers of Sayanna have supported his daughter, Lasya Nanditha in Nov 2023 assembly elections this year. The by-election was necessitated after Nanditha’s death in Feb this year. In this crucial by-poll, Sayanna's loyal cadre is again firmly backing Sayanna’s elder daughter and BRS candidate Lasya Niveditha. Meanwhile, the Congress camp maintains a modest presence in four of the eight wards, namely Bowenpally, Balamrai, Mahendra Hills, and Bolarum. In a strategic manoeuvre reminiscent of its ‘Operation Akarsh’, the Congress is intensifying efforts to bolster its cadre not only in these four wards but also across all eight wards. Former SCB vice president J Pratap, who recently joined the Congress, affirmed the party’s resolve to secure victory in the Secunderabad Cantonment by-election.He outlined the strategy, emphasising the party’s willingness to offer various positions in temples, the Bowenpally agriculture market, and nominated corporations to new members, leveraging its current position in power.“The Congress is actively courting disaffected senior politicians from other parties, as well as individuals from the BRS and BJP who feel marginalised. Several politicians from the Cantonment assembly segment are poised to join the Congress within days,” Pratap said. Additionally, the Congress plans to host public gatherings featuring cabinet ministers, including Damodar Raja Narasimha, Ponnam Prabhakar, and Shabbir Ali, to sway SC, BC, and minority voters in the Cantonment. Whereas the BJP, however, faces a dearth of substantial support in the SCB wards, save for strongholds in Mahendra Hills, Bowenpally, and portions of Monda Market.Cantonment BJP leaders, in collaboration with figures like J Rama Krishna, Bhanuka Mallikarjuna, and former SCB employee Parasuram, are rallying behind senior BJP leader Eatala Rajender, who is contesting from the Malkajgiri Lok Sabha constituency.However, BRS candidate Lasya Niveditha exudes confidence in clinching victory in the by-election, citing robust support from the cadre across all SCB wards and the endorsement of 80% of the basthi vote bank for the BRS.