If the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) loses the November 30 assembly elections in Telangana, the main issues contributing to its potential loss would be unemployment, price rise, housing, civic infrastructure, and concerns related to the Dharani portal.
This was revealed in a survey conducted by a Hyderabad-based political research organization, People’s Pulse, for a prominent digital news website. Among all the issues, joblessness and price rise appear to be the most significant election concerns.
Among the survey’s respondents, 24 percent raised the issue of unemployment, while price rise emerged as the key problem for 22 percent of them.
The Dharani portal — or the Integrated Land Records Management System, a flagship state government initiative to streamline land records — was mentioned by six percent, and four percent expressed concerns about the lack of roads.
The survey projects that the Congress has an edge in 57 to 62 seats in the 119-member assembly, while the BRS is projected to lead in 41 to 46 seats. The BJP is expected to have an edge in 3 to 6 seats, and AIMIM in 6 to 7 seats. Others are likely to win 1-2 seats.
The survey also indicates a vote share gap — over four percent — between the BRS and the Congress. Congress is projected to get 42.5 percent, while the ruling BRS is projected to get 37.6 percent.
Across the state, this discontent seems to primarily focus on the poor implementation of two schemes: The Dalit Bandhu, which promised Rs 10 lakh to deserving community members to set up their own businesses, and the two-bedroom free houses — as well as voter fatigue with the BRS.
The survey shows that disillusionment among youth (20-35 age group) is palpable, and they are backing the Congress, given the “perception that the BRS has failed” to fill up vacant government jobs throughout its two tenures.
Twenty-four percent of the survey’s respondents highlighted unemployment as their main complaint.
