Stone-cutters, youngsters & professionals enter poll race

Hyderabad: Munugode is witnessing an eclectic mix of doctors, stone-cutters, professionals and youngsters entering the poll fray as independents. Twentyfour such candidates filed nominations, saying they want to fight for farmers, jobs and bring about a change in the political system. So far, 32 candidates have filed 52 sets of nominations, the process of which will close on October 14.
Komatireddy Sai Teja Reddy, a doctor, too wanted to test his luck.“I do not belong to Munugode. But I am filing the nomination as I want to fight for farmers. There is a considerable distress in the farming community. A large number of people in Munugode depend on farming. So, I will fight for their cause, that’s why I came on a bullock cart,” he told TOI.
Varikuppala Krishna, president of Telangana Vaddera Sangham, entered the fray as an independent. “There is no recognition for Vadderas who are mainly stone-cutters. There are no MLAs from our community. We are BCs in Telangana and SCs in Karnataka. I contested earlier from Bhuvanagiri Lok Sabha constituency and got more 35,000 votes in 2014. In 2019, I contested from Uppal assembly seat,” he said.
Kante Sayanna, a doctor, filed his nominaton and said his main aim was to bring about a desired change in the political system.
“I have contested three times for an MP seat and four times as an MLA and once for an MLC seat. I contested against CM K Chandrasekhar Rao and secured third position. Social and economic progress of women, downtrodden, farmers and poor is my target,” he said.