Lok Sabha elections: Malkajgiri sees drop in independents

HYDERABAD: In the recent assembly elections the Malkajgiri assembly constituency drew the attention of all major political parties, after a total of 19 independent candidates - the biggest in number among other assembly constituencies in the city - contested.
The candidates who are in fray from the major political parties also felt that the independent candidates will play a key role in their voting pattern, but interestingly, all 19 independent candidates have lost their deposits.
The exact reason for why most independents are not interested in contesting from Malkajgiri Constituency is unknown, according to political analysits.
As Monday was the last date for filing nominations, a total of 10 independents, filed their nominations from Malkajgiri.
Meanwhile, two independent candidates, including R Anil Kumar and P Rajendra, who lost their deposits in the assembly elections, are filing their nominations once again on Monday. According to them, they were contesting to test their luck in the Lok Sabha elections.
“I have contested in the 2018 December assembly elections and got 650 votes. I decided to fight against the major civic issues which have been left unresolved by then Malkajgiri Lok Sabha member, Ch Malla Reddy during his five-year tenure,” P Rajendra, a resident of Secunderabad Cantonment and a document developer in a software company in the city, told TOI.
“Nobody is questioning the TRS-led government in Malkajgiri about why they did not resolve civic issues like tap connections to every household under Mission Bhagiratha, bad roads dug up for water lines and left without restoration,” he said. I will begin campaigning in a day or two after the election commission allots a symbol, he added.
Another independent candidate, R Anil Kumar, filed his nomination and has asked the Election Commission to allot the symbol of the ‘Slate’, which he was allotted during the assembly elections too.