Anti-incumbency factor haunts BRS in Mahabubabad

Assembly Constituency- Mahabubabad

Parliament: Mahabubabad

District: Mahabubabad

MLA: Banoth Shankar Naik (BRS)

MP: Kavitha Malothu (BRS)

Reservation: ST

Total Voters: 2,38,734

Booths: 283

Urban Voters: 15%

Rural Voters: 85%

Male: 49.76%

Female: 50.24%

Caste & Religious Demography

• Gen + OBC: 51.80%
• SC: 11.80%
• ST: 36.40%
• Hindu: 94.80%
• Muslim: 4.50%
• Others : 1.7%

Candidates

Banoth Shankar Naik (BRS)

Shankar Naik is a two-time MLA born in 1968 to Kevla Naik and Baju Bhai in Balaji Thanda village of Rayaparthi Mandal, Mahabubabad district. He pursued his graduation in engineering from Regional Engineering College, Warangal from 1985 to 1990. In 2009, he completed his MBA from Kakatiya University. Shankar Naik, who hails from an agricultural family, worked as an assistant executive engineer in the Irrigation department before entering politics.

Married to Dr Seethamahalakshmi and has two children, Shankar Naik resigned from his job and joined the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) in 2009, contested as an MLA and was defeated in the 2009 Assembly elections. He joined the TRS in 2009 and actively participated in the Telangana movement. In the 2014 Telangana Legislative Assembly election, Shankar Naik contested from the TRS and won as an MLA with a majority of 9,315 votes against INC candidate Maloth Kavitha.

In the 2018 Telangana elections, he was elected for the second term with a majority of 13,534 votes against INC candidate Porika Balaram Naik, contesting from the TRS. Shankar Naik announced Rs 50,000 cash reward to 25 beneficiaries who got houses in a double bedroom scheme at Balaji Tanda in Rayaparthy Mandal, his native place.

Dr Murali Naik (INC)

Dr. Murali Naik, a well-respected figure, is set to contest from Mahabubabad (ST) on behalf of the INC. His expertise in addressing the needs of the Scheduled Tribes community is expected to garner support. Murali Naik and his wife are doctors and are involved in social service. The duo are running a private hospital in Mahabubabad. Murali Naik’s wife earlier served as municipal chairman of Mahabubabad and he has influence across the constituency apart from his own mandal Nellikuduru.

Jathothu Hussain Naik (BJP)

Jatothu Hussain Naik was born on March 6, 1982 to a farmer’s Hindu family In Macharla village, Gudur mandal, Mahabubabad district. He is the fifth of five children born to Jatothu Lachya Naik and Jatothu Gumsi Nayak. Hussain's family belongs to the Banjara community.

Hussain Naik completed his education in Warangal and he is a young entrepreneur. Since 2015, he is enthusiastic to serve the people below poverty. In 2018, he joined the BJP and contested as an MLA from Mahabubabad Assembly constituency during the 2018 Assembly Elections. Hussain Naik also contested as Member of Parliament from Mahabubabad Parliamentary Constituency in 2019 Lok Sabha Elections.

Geography

Mahabubabad (Ancient Name - Manukota) is a town and the district headquarters of Mahabubabad district in Telangana. The town is situated on the west bank of the Munneru, which is one of the tributaries of the River Krishna. Mahabubabad is famous for Bayyaram Mines. Mahabubabad municipality was constituted in 2011 and is classified as a second grade municipality. Four mandals -- Mahabubabad, Nellikudur, Kesamudram and Gudur -- are under this constituency.

Background: The INC won six times and Janarreddy Janardhan Reddy from the INC won five times. The CPI, the TRS and the TDP won twice each. Earlier, the Assembly constituency was dominated by the Communists. Later, it became ST reserved and turned out to be the base of the INC in 2009 - ST reserved.

MLA Profile

Personal Background: Shankar Naik always aspired to be an IPS officer. His goal was to direct a movie on revolution. He directed the movie but it did not release and he had played the side hero in the film. His wife is a doctor and his daughter Tejaswini is studying in IIT Madras and son Surya is studying at NIT.

Education Qualification: Civil Engineer from REC, Warangal. He wrote UPSC but didn't crack.

Profession: Shankar Naik owns petrol bunks, school, agricultural lands, industries.

Political Background: Shankar Naik began his political journey from the PRP in 2009 and was defeated as MLA. In 2006, after his arrest and raid he decided to join politics and resigned his job. In 2004, KCR welcomed him to join the TRS but he declined as he wanted to focus on his career. In 1999 he was denied an INC ticket from Chennur over Manusudhan Reddy and in 1985, Shankar Naik got an SI job, because Dr DT Naik told him to study in REC. Therefore, he rejected the SI job.

Allegations: Shankar Naik is always in news for fighting with various government officials. He had an exchange of words with the district Collector. In 2005, a raid was carried out on him for disproportionate assets, spearheaded by ACP and political leaders when he was a deputy executive engineer.

2014 Assembly Analysis:

Banoth Shankar Nayak contested on the TRS ticket and won . After his loss in 2009 Aelections, worked hard in the constituency and maintained cordial relationships with local people. INC candidate Kavitha who is daughter of Redya Naik (Dornakal MLA) contested but lost because of lack of connect with local people. Shankar Naik was able to pull off majority of Lambada votes, Gouda and yadav votes. Because of strong Reddy influence, the NC was able to secure Reddy , Madiaga, and Muslim votes.

2018 Assembly Analysis:

Naik won the election from the TRS. Ministers from the TRS actively participated in the election campaign in support of him. The TRS welfare schemes also helped them in the elections, by the consolidation of BC votes towards the TRS. INC candidate Balram Naik (ex-Union Minister) lost the election.

Current Situation

• Although sitting MLA is accessible to people and have a good public image, there is a rising anti-government image which might hamper chances.
• BJP has minimal presence in the constituency.