Thungathurthy may witness close battle between BRS, Congress

Assembly Constituency-Thungathurthy

District: Suryapet

MLA: Gadari Kishore Kumar (BRS)

Reservation: SC

Total Voters: 2,40,104

Booths: 326

Urban Voters: 0%

Rural Voters: 100%

Male: 50.23%

Female: 49.77%

Caste & Religious Demography

• Gen + BC: 69.40%
• SC: 22.30%
• ST: 8.30%
• Hindu: 96%
• Muslim: 3%
• Others : 1.00%

Candidates

Gadari Kishore Kumar (BRS)

Kishore was born on December 16,1985 in Nalgonda. He pursued his Masters in Journalism and Mass Communication (MCJ) at Osmania University in 2006. He received a doctorate in Journalism and Mass Communication in 2017.

He actively participated in the Telangana movement as student leader at OU JAC, Osmania University. He is known for his oratorical skills. He began his political career with the TRS (now BRS) in 2010. In the 2014 Assembly elections, he contested as an MLA for the first time from Thungathurthy Assembly constituency. He defeated Congress candidate Addanki Dayakar.

In the 2018 Assembly elections, he won as an MLA for the second time by defeating Congress candidate Addanki Dayakar. In the 2023 Assembly elections, he is going to take on Congress candidate Mandula Samuel and BJP candidate Kadiyam Ramachandraraiah.

Mandula Samuel (Congress)

Samuel was very active in the Telangana movement from the erstwhile Nalgonda district. He began his political journey with the TRS (now BRS). He served as TRS SC cell president for several years. In the 2014 and 2018 Assembly elections, he expected a ticket to contest as an MLA from Thungathurthy Assembly constituency.

However, the party leadership denied his candidature over Gadari Kishore in the two elections. Instead, he was appointed as the chairman of Telangana State Warehousing Corporation. After serving his two years tenure as chairman, he once again anticipated MLA ticket from Thungathurthy Assembly constituency in the upcoming elections. Upon knowing the party leadership was in favour of fielding Gadari Kishore, he shifted his loyalties to the Congress from the BRS.

In the 2023 Assembly elections, he is contesting as an MLA for the first time on behalf of the Congress. He is going to take on BRS candidate Gadari Kishore Kumar and BJP candidate Kadiyam Ramachandraraiah.

Kadiyam Ramachandraiah (BJP)

Ramachandraiah was born on June 4, 1960, in Nagaram village in Suryapet district. He pursued his Bachelor’s degree in BZC at Nagarjuna Degree College in Nalgonda in 1983. In 1987, he also pursued B. Ed from DRM College in Nalgonda.

His career transitioned into geology and mining, where he rose to leadership roles within the Mines & Geology Department, He established charitable trusts, Kadiyam Somakka Charitable trust, Shri Yoga Shiridi Sai Baba Seva trust, and community initiatives, prioritising healthcare, education, clean drinking water, and cultural enrichment to improve the lives of marginalised communities.

He embarked on his political journey in 2018 and joined the BJP and was appointed as Thungathurthy Assembly incharge. In the 2018 Assembly elections, he contested as an MLA for the first time on behalf of the BJP. He was defeated by BRS candidate Gadari Kishore Kumar. In 2019, he was appointed as BJP State executive member. In the 2023 Assembly elections, he is contesting as an MLA from Thungathurthy Assembly constituency for the second time.

Assembly constituency information

Background: Thungathurthy Assembly constituency is located in Suryapet district of Telangana. This Assembly constituency was formed in 1967. Thungathurthy, Nagaram, Thirumalagiri, Nuthankal, JajiReddygudem, Shaligouraram, Mothkur, Addagudur and maddirala mandals are in Thungathurthy constituency. Madiga, Reddy, Yadav and Gouds are the dominant castes in this constituency.

Delimitation: This Assembly constituency was a General seat till 2008. In 2009, due to delimitation, the constituency became an SC reserved one. After delimitation, Addagudur,Maddirala and Tirumalagiri from Suryapet and Shaligouraram from Nakerekal were merged into Thungathurthy. Tirumalagiri, Maddirala, Noothankal and Mothkur have a majority of SC population in this constituency.

Economy: Agriculture is the main source of livelihood in this constituency. Many of the youth are migrating to Hyderabad and other places for employment.

2014 Assembly elections Analysis:

• Palwai Rajani Kumari had contested on behalf of the BJP and TDP alliance.
• In the 2014 Assembly elections, Gadari Kishore (TRS) won as an MLA by defeating Congress candidate Addanki Dayakar.
• Gadari Kishore's political image as a student leader and president of OUJAC and support of Guntakandla Jagadishwar Reddy helped him to win the election.
• The TDP played a spoilsport for the Congress as Yadav community votes were spited between both the Congress and the TDP.
• Reddies and Gouds supported the TRS in 2014.

2018 Assembly elections Analysis

• Gadari Kishore Kumar once again won as an MLA from the constituency by defeating Congress candidate Addanki Dayakar
• The TRS continued its stronghold in the constituency with the support from Reddies and Gouds

Current Situation

• Internal squabbles in the BRS between the MLA and the leaders.
• Anti-incumbency on sitting MLA Gadari Kishore Kumar due to delay in the completion of irrigation projects and road infrastructure
• Gadari Kishore Kumar is facing allegations of sand mafia and relations with drug suppliers
• The Congress has a strong cadre in the Assembly constituency and senior leader Addanki Dayakar is actively exposing the Government's failures.
• The BJP is also facing internal squabbles between Sankineni Venkateshwara Rao and MLA contesting candidate Kadiyam Ramachandraiah .

Key local issues

• 100-bed hospital
• Degree college
• Residential schools
• Junior college