As the Telangana Assembly elections approach on November 30, opposition parties are aiming to garner support from segments allegedly overlooked by the ruling BRS, particularly the significant Mudiraj community.This community constitutes a substantial voting bloc of 60 lakh individuals, making up 11% of the state’s population.
Both the Congress and the BJP are engaged in an intense effort to win over the community members, who are reportedly dissatisfied with the BRS for not fielding a candidate from their community.
During a recent public meeting at the Parade Ground in Secunderabad, Mudiraj community leaders criticized the BRS and pledged their support to parties that promise them fair representation.
Tensions between the BRS and the Mudiraj community escalated earlier when K.Chandrashekar Rao removed Etala Rajendar from the Cabinet in May 2021.Subsequently, Rajendar joined the BJP and won against the BRS in the Huzurabad bypoll later that year.
Another incident further strained relations in June, when an audio clip allegedly featuring MLC Padi Kaushik Reddy verbally abusing the Mudiraj community circulated widely on social media.
Kaushik Reddy was also accused of assaulting a journalist, Bandi Ajay, who was a member of the same community.The fallout was substantial, leading to protests and widespread discontent.
Even BRS leaders, including Adilabad MLA Jogu Ramanna, called on Kaushik Reddy to apologize, which he ultimately did.
K.Jagan Mohan Mudiraj, president of the Telangana Mudiraj Sangam, emphasized that the community seeks political influence and proper representation in the allocation of tickets for Assembly and Lok Sabha polls, rather than promises of infrastructure like Mudiraj Bhavans or free distribution of fishlings.He stated that, in accordance with their 11% population share in Telangana, they should have at least 11 MLAs and 3 MPs.
He underscored that the Mudiraj community is committed to supporting only those parties in the upcoming Assembly polls that ensure adequate representation for them.
Against this backdrop, Mudiraj leaders in the Congress and BJP are actively engaging with their community, assuring fairness in the ticket allocation process.
Since the Congress and BJP have yet to release their candidates list, the state leadership of both parties has raised the matter with their national leadership in Delhi, urging them to consider candidates from the Mudiraj community in constituencies like Patancheru, Tandur, and Narayanpet.
