Forced to shut shop, Malkajgiri street vendor in poll ring for justice

HYDERABAD: Disgruntled with politicians for failing to support his ‘community’ when they were forcibly evicted from Chaitanyapuri main road, a street vendor from the city has decided to contest in the Lok Sabha elections. Chiripi Reddy Ramesh’s agenda: To highlight the plight of the close to 1,000 street vendors like him who have lost their livelihood in the last one and a half months.
And this despite them having all the required permissions and licences, said the independent candidate contesting from Malkajgiri. This largest Lok Sabha constituency in India has heavyweights like Eatala Rajender from BJP, Patnam Suneetha Reddy from Congress, and Ragidi Laxma Reddy from BRS, in the fray.
But Ramesh isn’t perturbed by that. That’s also because this isn’t his life’s maiden challenge. “I came to Hyderabad in 2011 to prepare for government jobs. When I failed to secure employment, I started a roadside tiffin centre on the Chaitanyapuri footpath. Soon, I employed six people,” said the candidate, rueing how none of them have an income now. As per his affidavit, the 33-year-old has Rs 50,000 cash and no degree as he could not complete it. Reiterating his journey into the political circuit, Ramesh said that he initially met several politicians seeking help to restart the stalls.
But when no support came their way, he decided to take the plunge. “When I made up my mind to contest, other street vendors assured me of their support,” he said, urging the government or politicians to support small businesses like his so that the youth do not remain unemployed. With limited resources he said it is his friends and relatives who are funding his campaign.