BJP MLA T Raja Singh, who is known for his hate speeches across the country, has represented the constituency since 2014.
BJP MLA T Raja Singh who is known for his hate speeches across the country represents the constituency since 2014. (Sumit Jha/South First)
With the Telangana Assembly elections 2023 just days away, South First is bringing you ground reports from key constituencies. This series brings you voices from the ground, the mood of the voters, and issues that matter — as well as those that don’t.
On a November morning with overcast skies, a man in his 30s donned an orange patka (scarf) around his neck and cruised through the narrow lanes of Dhoolpet, nestled within the Goshamahal Assembly constituency in Hyderabad.
He made a pit stop in Akashpuri, searching for a parking spot. A fellow resident directed him to a corner where he safely parked his Honda motorcycle. From there, he set his sights on the Hanuman temple, perched atop a small hill within the locality.
After scanning the crowd for a few moments, he spotted a friend and made his way toward him, gradually merging into the bustling congregation.
All of these men had gathered for a motorcycle rally organised by BJP leader and Goshamahal MLA T Raja Singh. He was about to file his nomination papers, and the rally was a show of support for his candidacy.
At the base of the hill, in a warehouse-like structure, breakfast was provided for the rally attendees.
Seizing the opportunity for a free meal, a few schoolchildren dressed in their uniforms discreetly grabbed some idlis and a packet of chutney before slipping out.
One of the children, in a hurry, explained, “Raja bhaiya‘s rally is happening, so we decided to skip school to witness it, and we even got breakfast.” Then they dashed away with their unexpected morning feast.
Kids after taking breakfast rushing out from the crowd. (Sumit Jha/South First)
Raja Singh, who has been the representative of the Goshamahal constituency since 2014 on a BJP ticket, is widely known for his hate speeches targeting the Muslim community in the country.
There have been 75 First Information Reports (FIRs) filed against him, with a staggering 65 of them pertaining to charges of hurting religious feelings.
“He is the son of Goshamahal, which is surrounded by Muslims. As a fighter, he speaks out when someone insults our god,” 65-year-old Putli Bai told South First while waiting for Raja Singh’s rally to start.
“If you are going to speak up for your community, is it a crime? He was sent to jail for speaking up for his community, and it was done by Muslims.”
Singh was suspended from the BJP in August last year for making incendiary remarks against a specific community. He was also in jail for for a while under the Preventive Detention Act after making unsavoury remarks against the Prophet.
His suspension was subsequently lifted by the BJP’s Central Disciplinary Committee — hours before the release of the first list of candidates — to accommodate his candidacy.
Goshamahal Assembly constituency in numbers. (Click to enlarge)
While Putli Bai regards Raja Singh as one of her own, the community of Goshamahal, which comprises people engaged in idol-making, kite-making, and various small businesses, is grappling with the repercussions of emerging regulations and a surge in population.
Right in the heart of the Old City of Hyderabad, Goshamahal is home to Lodh Rajputs, Marwaris, and Baniyas, communities originally hailing from outside Hyderabad.
Legend has it that they migrated to Hyderabad when Aurangzeb invaded the region, and these brave individuals — originally from Allahabad — came to extend support in the fight against Qutub Quli Shah’s forces before eventually settling in Dhoolpet.
It’s worth noting that the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh also belongs to the Lodh Rajput community, and a statue in his honour stands near the Hanuman Temple in Akashpur colony. Raja Singh also comes from the Lodh Rajput community.
Dhoolpet in Hyderabad is known for two distinct things: The art of crafting Ganesha idols and the illicit trade of ganja (marijuana). While the illegal ganja trade remains discreet, it’s a widely acknowledged secret that you can obtain it there.
There have been occasional reports of Excise and Police Department raids on houses, as well as the suspension of local police officials in recent years, drawing attention to this issue.
On the other hand, idol-making has become a prominent occupation for the residents of the constituency. According to Raja Singh’s affidavit, his wife is a maker of clay idols, indicating their involvement in this significant craft.
During the freedom movement, Bal Gangadhar Tilak initiated the practice of conducting Ganesha puja in Maharashtra, aiming to shift the celebration of Ganeshotsav from private homes to public spaces. He believed that this move would not only bring people together but also foster a sense of unity. After all, the Peshwas — generals of Shivaji and other Chhatrapatis — were all devotees of Ganesha.
This tradition also found its way to the then Hyderabad state, where the Hindu population — predominantly from what is today the Goshamahal constituency — embraced the festival. Consequently, the people of Dhoolpet began crafting Ganesha idols.
Unsold Ganesh idols in Dhoolpet. (Sumit Jha/South First)
The residents of Dhoolpet claim that they have been dedicated to the art of idol-making for three to four generations.
Over time, the methods involved in this craft have evolved. Initially, it involved crafting clay idols, but as time progressed, the use of Plaster of Paris (PoP) became more common.
The art of idol-making in Dhoolpet gradually transformed into an industrialised process, and they began supplying these idols to distant places such as Kanniyakumari, Chittoor, Pune, Indore, and beyond.
In this area, virtually every household became involved in some aspect of the tradition of idol-making.
In addition to idol making, some residents of Dhoolpet are also involved in crafting kites. However, both of these businesses are currently grappling with regulatory challenges, which have left some individuals regretting their life choices.
Simultaneously, another industry that was thriving in the area was the production of Gudumba, which refers to illicit liquor.
Local residents in Dhoolpet who weren’t engaged in idol-making often found themselves involved in this trade. However, due to strict regulations and frequent raids by the Excise Department, this trade has come to a halt.
As Raja Singh’s rally passed her lane, Putli Bai, in her admiration for the leader’s commitment to Hindutva, took a seat on the porch.
Asked about her family’s occupation, she gestured towards a closed shop and said, “Yahan hum patang banate hai (We make kites here).”
She went on to explain that her family crafts four different types of kites. The largest ones are sold for ₹2,000 for a set of 100 pieces, while the smallest kites are priced at ₹500 for 100 pieces. The other types of kites are available for ₹600 and ₹1,000 per 100 pieces. Shopkeepers typically earn a profit of ₹4-5 per kite.
Putli Bai looking at the rally passing by. (Sumit Jha/South First)
“In the past, the cost of making kites was significantly lower. Raw paper was affordable, and the profit margins were generous. However, nowadays, paper prices have increased, and demand is limited. As a result, we’re unable to make substantial profits,” Putli Bai lamented.
“My ancestors began making kites, and we’ve carried on the tradition. We invest ₹5 lakh every year but only make ₹1 lakh in profit. We manage to get by with this income. I even applied for a ₹1 lakh loan, but our application was rejected by the bank,” she added.
Since 2017, the Telangana government has enforced a ban on nylon and synthetic threads — commonly known as Chinese manjha — to prevent harm to humans, birds, and animals. However, despite the ban, Chinese manjha is still readily available in many parts of the city.
Putli Bai (left) with neighbour. (Sumit Jha/South First)
She also mentioned that, over the past four decades, she would start producing manjha at least three months before Makar Sankranti. “But since 2016, we only do it for three or four weeks. No one buys traditional manjha anymore,” said Putali Bai.
Due to the ban on Chinese manjha, both kite-makers and traditional manjha producers often find themselves mistakenly targeted by the police, who conduct unwarranted searches on their homes in search of the prohibited thread.
“Everyone knows I’m a kite-maker in Dhoolpet. Some days, the police come to our house at midnight in search of Chinese manjha, which we don’t sell. Why would we sell manjha when we’re busy making kites? Unfortunately, these police officers don’t understand and come looking for manjha,” Putali Bai shared her frustration.
In a narrow lane within Dhoolpet, in a parking warehouse, 32-year-old Sonam Bai, was adding vibrant colours to small Lakshmi idols accompanied by her younger sister Neha. “Diwali aa raha hai na, abhi yahi bikta hai (Diwali is approaching, and only these idols sell well),” Sonam explained to South First.
She went on to describe their family’s seasonal production schedule. Between February and August, they craft Ganesh idols, then shift their focus to Durga idols in September and October, and finally, Lakshmi idols until Diwali.
“After that, we have no work for the next three months,” lamented Sonam, adding, “We’re not certain whether we’ll be able to start making Ganesh idols on time for the next season.”
Sonam putting colours on the idols. (Sumit Jha/South First)
The reason for this uncertainty is a pending case in the Telangana High Court. A petitioner has requested the court to instruct the government to cease the production of PoP idols due to their detrimental impact on water bodies.
The court permitted PoP-idol production this year, but prohibited the immersion of Ganesh idols made from P0P in Hussain Sagar or any other water body in Hyderabad.
“If they halt the production of PoP idols, it will lead to chaos in every household in Dhoolpet,” said Sonam. “That’s because PoP idols yield higher profits compared to clay idols.”
Neha, sitting beside Sonam, chimed in to emphasise that no one in their family possessed any skill outside idol-making. “In 2020, when Ganesha Puja was not allowed during the Covid-19 pandemic, many families in the neighbourhood had to sell their gold to make ends meet. If PoP is banned, many families will find themselves in the same difficult situation,” she said.
In this deeply religious and patriarchal locality, the population generally lacks formal education. Sonam noted, “No one in this area is educated. However, those who aspire to see their children break free from this line of work and lead independent lives are ensuring that they receive an education. In our case, both of us studied only up to Standard 10, and I got married at the young age of 18. Now, I’m 32, and my daughter is 13 years old.”
Neha added that the fate of the next generation would be greatly influenced by the decision regarding the use of Plaster of Paris.
A few kilometres away from Dhoolpet, in the Marwari-dominated area of Begum Bazar within the Goshamahal constituency, the streets are so congested that there’s hardly any room to walk. People are engrossed in shopping in this bustling commercial hub, renowned for offering a wide range of goods.
Traffic Jam in Begum Bazar area. (Sumit Jha/South First)
“Except for a few lanes, you won’t find a single lane in Begum Bazar that isn’t jammed with traffic. It’s not just trucks or buses; it’s small pickups, tempos, scooters, and bicycles. Pedestrians can hardly navigate these roads,” explained Manohar, who runs a paan shop in one of the lanes of Begum Bazar.
He went on to describe how practically every lane and every family in the area has a shop.
Manohar looks outside his shop towards traffic. (Sumit Jha/South First)
“When there are shops, people from various parts of the city come to buy goods. These items are transported by some vehicle, and since the lanes are narrow, all these vehicles end up congesting these lanes,” Manohar elaborated.
So, what’s the solution? “Either widen the roads or close the shops,” Manohar suggested.
“The first option means dismantling the shops, and the second option means taking away the livelihood of families,” he said.
“So, no, there’s no viable solution to this problem. We have to adapt and live with it,” he concluded.
Goshamahal, like many other constituencies in the Old City of Hyderabad, is deeply rooted in religious affiliations, and voting patterns are often influenced by these affiliations.
When residents of the constituency are asked why they vote for certain candidates, their answers tend to revolve around the candidate’s personality and commitment to their religious beliefs.
For instance, Manohar stated, “Raja bhai talks about the Hindu religion, and that’s why we vote for him.” Sonam votes because her husband believes that “Raja bhai needs to win to safeguard our religion”.
Meanwhile, Putli Bai supports Raja Singh because “he takes care of every mother, daughter, sister, and sister-in-law”, and she believes in his commitment to their welfare.
In the 2018 Assembly elections, the BJP secured this single seat in the Old City of Hyderabad. Interestingly, it’s the only seat in this area where the AIMIM has never won an election.
This constituency was originally a part of Maharajganj, but came under Goshamahal during the 2009 delimitation.
Between 2009 and 2014, the constituency was represented by M Mukesh Goud of the Congress. However, in 2014, Raja Singh emerged victorious with a substantial 29.52 percent vote share.
In the 2018 election, Raja Singh retained the seat with a 13 percent vote share majority against Prem Singh Rathore of the TRS (now the BRS). Notably, Rathore was a member of the BJP in 1999 when he won the Maharajganj seat.
As of now, the ruling BRS has not announced its candidate for the constituency, while the Congress has replaced Mukesh Goud with the Telangana Pradesh Mahila Congress president Mogili Sunitha.
If Raja Singh is a big figure for people of the constituency, people also see Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao as someone who has developed the state.
“Look at HITEC City and other parts of West Hyderabad. They have developed it quite well. The last time we witnessed flooding, they distributed the money as well. The local BRS leaders even gave us a sewing machine during the lockdown,” said Sonam.
When asked about the six guarantees made by the Congress, including the promise of free bus services for women, both Sonam and Putli Bai seem to be unaware of such promises.
The constituency is predominantly inhabited by the Lodh Rajput community, which falls within the Backward Class category, as well as significant Marwari, Baniya, and Muslim populations.
Despite being located in an area dominated by Muslims, the fervour of the constituency revolves around its identity as a Hindu-majority area within a Muslim-dominated region.
As Manohar pointed out, “We are a minority in the Old City.”
Religious fervour runs deep among the people, and those who capitalise on it tend to gain the trust and support of the community.
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