BRS, Cong face-off in Andole & Khammam

Hyderabad: The ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is struggling to retain the bellwether Andole constituency in Sangareddy district, with Congress giving a tough fight through its ‘Marpu Kavali’ campaign.
Andole has consistently elected an MLA from a party that has formed the government 12 out of 14 times in united Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, having gone to polls since 1957.After Telangana’s formation, the BRS has won the seat twice.
While the change in government resonates among anti-incumbency voters, pro-BRS supporters express satisfaction with the Rythu Bandu, Pension, and Kalyan Lakshki schemes. In addition to state-level issues like unemployment and housing, the poor condition of roads is a specific concern in the Andole constituency. Congress’s former deputy chief minister Damodhar Rajanarsimha and BRS’s sitting MLA Ch Kranti Kiran are in a neck-and-neck contest, with BJP’s Babu Mohan trailing as a distant third.
Established in 1952, Andole constituency is one of the five assembly segments in Sangareddy district which has been reserved for Scheduled Castes since 1967.
Moghalaih of Neerdigunta says, “I didn’t get a loan waiver, and SCs have not benefited much in this government. We want a change.”
Those benefiting from multiple schemes express support for chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR). Maqsood, who runs a tea stall in Chowtakur, says, “I have received Rythu Bandhu’s money. In my family, the elderly are getting pensions. My daughter-in-law got Shaadi Mubarak. We will give KCR a hat trick.”
Garella Viswanath of Chowtakuru, from the Mudiraj community, says, “People are divided. I have benefited from KCR’s schemes, and I do not wish for a government change. Whoever is fortunate will benefit.”
While welfare schemes are attractive, the BRS faces issues due to local problems like poor roads.
Mallesham of Choutakur says, “Giving power to a party for more than two terms will lead to the arrogance of those at the top. The government provides one benefit and causes damage in nine instances. I am a tenant farmer, fertilizer rates have increased and there is no minimum support price for cotton. Local MLA Kranti Kiran never visits us. Roads are so bad in the constituency.”
Anand Reddy of Sarafpally village says, “There is no benefit from the BRS government. Congress promised that it would provide pensions to all eligible individuals. Congress will give 4,000 per head, and housewives will get 2,500 if Congress comes to power, it’s good.”
The irrigation infrastructure, including distribution channels, needs to be completed in certain parts of the constituency.
An estimated 41% of the population in the Andole assembly constituency comprises Scheduled Castes (SC), dominated by the Mala and Madiga communities. The Backward Classes (BC), which is around 40%, includes the Golla-Kuruma, Mudiraja, Padmashali, and Goud communities.
Scheduled Tribes (ST) comprise about five percent of Andole’s population, primarily the Lambadi community. The remaining 14% includes forward castes such as Reddys, Brahmins, Vaishyas, and other castes (around 10%) and the Muslim community (around four percent).
Babu Mohan has been a two-time MLA from Andole — in 1999 while contesting on a TDP ticket and in 2014 after switching to the TRS and now to the BJP. However, he is making little impact on the voters. Recently, Babu Mohan’s son joined the BRS.