Power crisis, a major poll issue in Karimnagar

Karimnagar Parliament constituency is starved of power and water for irrigation needs. Hence, focus of the contesting candidates would be on the execution of the pending 2,100 MW APGenco’s gas-based power project in Nedunuru village and Sri Ram Sagar Project (SRSP) flood flow canal project.

Of the seven Assembly segments in Karimnagar Lok Sabha constituency, Manakondur, Karimnagar, Husnabad, Sircilla, Vemulawada and Choppadandi are upland areas which are starved of proper irrigation and drinking water sources.

With the formation of the Telangana State, the focus has shifted to the development of the region and the issue of power and water would have a serious impact on the outcome.

Besides, the neglect of Sircilla Textile Park, sufferings of Gulf migrants and returnees, delay in starting the IT park, government medical and engineering colleges in Karimnagar town would also be an election issue. The Karimnagar Parliamentary constituency, the epicentre of the statehood movement, is again likely to be on the centre-stage in this election.

Senior Congress leaders M. Satyanarayana Rao and J. Chokka Rao have won from the Karimnagar LS seat, a Congress stronghold. Incidentally, TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao had also won in 2004, 2006 and 2008 in the five-year period by going in for by-elections over the statehood issue.

Decks are again cleared for an interesting tussle between Mr. Prabhakar (Congress) and Mr. Vinod Kumar (TRS). The BJP has been allotted this seat and it is to be seen whether former Union Minister Ch. Vidyasagar Rao or BJP general secretary Muralidhar Rao are fielded from the seat.