TRS' poll strategy for GHMC polls, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Telangana Rashtra Samithi, K Chandrasekhar Rao , Voter tourism, dream homes, GHMC elections
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- Category: Telangana News
- Last Updated: Thursday, 17 December 2015 11:43
TRS' poll strategy for GHMC polls, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Telangana Rashtra Samithi, K Chandrasekhar Rao , Voter tourism, dream homes, GHMC elections
Hyderabad: New Bhoiguda has become the city's latest tourist destination. Surprised?
With the civic polls only a few weeks away, it's 'voter tourism' that's unfolding in this part of town, which is home to the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi's (TRS) two-bedroom flats built exclusively for the poor.
Almost regularly, party activists are seen bringing voters in buses from across assembly constituencies so that they can get a dekko of these 'dream homes' and see for themselves just what the government can do for them. All this, of course, keeping in mind the ensuing Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections.
The 396 2-BHK flats at New Bhoiguda were inaugurated by the chief minister on November 16 this year. Ever since, the allottees, who until a year ago were living in dilapidated houses constructed for them more than 40 years ago, have started living in these relatively 'modern' units.
The list of house owners here comprise residents of IDH colony, Ammuguda, Bhagathsingh Nagar, Parthiwasda and Subhas Chandrabose Nagar, who gave their land for the new flats that have been constructed for them.
"A person had died when one of the old houses collapsed. We are obviously happy that we have new houses now," said D Govindamma, one of the residents.
The project had cost the state government Rs 42 crore. Now, it has turned into the party's strongest poll weapon, with leaders going all out to promote/publicise these homes hoping to reap benefits over the next few weeks.
If IT minister K T Rama Rao was heard harping over it while welcoming new people into the TRS fold recently, even Telangana irrigation minister T Harish Rao made it a point to mention how the double-bedroom flats were a great idea, something that nobody had thought of before in the country.
Incidentally, the New Bhoiguda 2-BHK scheme is the first such project for the state. Recently, KTR laid the foundation stone for two similar projects at Rasoolpura and Sanathnagar and announced that the government would build 1 lakh such houses in the city under this scheme.
"A lot of people have been coming to see our flats. On any given day, there are at least four or five people who turn up at our door.
Typically, a flat here measures 580 sq feet, complete with a hall, two bedrooms, a kitchen and two toilets - one Indian and one western. There is also a separate wash area.
So will this 'gift' from the government indeed influence voters? "We will vote for those who have done anything good to us," said C Indiramma, rather candidly.