By The Adilabad Lok Sabha constituency is a tribal stronghold, and all parties are aiming for the tribal vote bank, selecting their candidates accordingly. To defend their current seat, the BJP bypassed sitting MP Soyam Bapu Rao and nominated former MP Godam Nagesh, who switched from BRS. On the other hand, BRS has fielded former MLA Atram Sakku.
“The burden falls on the minister; the cadre and leader have different plans!”
The Adilabad Lok Sabha constituency is a tribal stronghold. All parties are targeting the tribal vote bank and have selected their candidates accordingly. To retain its current seat, the BJP chose former MP Godam Nagesh, who joined from BRS, instead of the sitting MP Soyam Bapu Rao. Meanwhile, BRS fielded former MLA Atram Sakku. Since both these leaders are from the Gond community, the Congress has devised a strategy to compete effectively.
The Congress party decided to field a new leader from the same community instead of senior leaders. They selected Atram Suguna as their MP candidate. Atram Suguna is a well-known tribal movement leader and respected teacher. By nominating her as the MP candidate, the Congress party hopes to gain a significant share of the women’s vote in the region. The Congress cadre initially celebrated the decision to nominate a female Gond candidate.
The Congress party believed that nominating a female candidate would secure them victory, especially with the substantial tribal vote base in the region. To ensure their success in the constituency, the party placed Minister Seethakka in charge of the parliamentary constituency campaign. However, her involvement has upset key leaders from the Banjara community who were expecting the ticket.
The situation in Adilabad has become complex, with the Congress party experiencing challenges due to its strategy. There is a notable gap between the old cadre and the new key leaders who have joined the party. The old guard feels disconnected from the party’s recent decisions, and the campaign faces obstacles.
With Minister Seethakka in charge of coordinating the campaign, the party hopes to address these challenges. However, her plans have not been effectively communicated to the local cadre, causing confusion about her itinerary and meetings. The burden falls heavily on Seethakka, as she strives to bring unity between the leadership and the local cadre.
Despite the party’s strategy, the Congress only secured one assembly seat in the previous elections. However, the party has strengthened its position with the influx of new leaders such as former MLAs Kona Appa and Vithal Reddy. Minister Seethakka’s strategic planning contributed to these gains, but the relationships between the new and old leaders remain fragile.
With only a month left until the elections, the Congress candidate’s lack of experience and the BJP’s robust strategies pose significant challenges. The BRS is also making efforts to regain ground after its setbacks in the state assembly elections. In this three-way contest, the Congress party must work together cohesively to succeed.
Although the Congress party has a strong cadre, the lack of coordination among leaders has hindered its progress. As a result, questions arise about whether the party can regain momentum. If the party cannot bridge the gap between the old and new leaders, the assembly election results could repeat in the parliamentary election.
Minister Seethakka faces a considerable challenge in uniting the local leaders and cadre. If she cannot garner full support, the assembly election results may be mirrored in the parliamentary elections. Whether Minister Seethakka bears the burden alone or the Adilabad leaders work together towards victory remains to be seen.
