Gulf migrant workers plan to enter poll fray in state

HYDERABAD: Migrant workers from the state in Gulf countries have decided to to field candidates in some assembly constituencies, including Kamareddy, where CM K Chandrasekhar Rao will contest.

Representatives of Gulf organisations of Telangana workers, who met in Sharjah recently, decided to filed candidates for the November 30 election in constituencies where there are a large number of families of Gulf workers. They were also mulling putting up candidates from Vemulawada, Sircilla, Korutla, Jagtial, Balkonda and Nirmal.

"The necessity has arisen because all political parties have been indifferent to demands of Gulf workers. This despite the fact that they earn foreign exchange for the country. Gulf workers contribute to the development of the country. It is only just that their interests be looked into," Kiran Kumar Peechara, who founded Emirates Telangana Cultural & Welfare Association and is into restaurant business in Dubai, told TOI.

In Kamareddy, the associations intend to field the family member of a worker who had died in Gulf during employment there. There are nearly 10-12 lakh Telangana workers in Gulf countries. Their families back home from various districts, including Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Adilabad, Nirmal and Rajanna Sircilla, make for a considerable vote bank. Gulf workers have demanded the state formulate an NRI policy and a Gulf Board.