Alcoholism is the bane of Kodangal Assembly constituency, from where TPCC president A Revanth Reddy is trying his luck again against P Narendra Reddy of the BRS.
The dilapidated Anganwadi building at Eranpally village in Kodangal. (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.
The Angadi Raichur village in the Kodangal Assembly constituency still remembers the date.
On 2 November, 2019, the villagers convened a grama sabha in the presence of sarpanch Govind Goud and sub-inspector Sekhar Goud. They decided to prohibit alcohol in the village and passed a resolution against allowing the opening of belt shops.
Sub-inspector Goud even donated ₹1,000 as part of raising funds to set up CCTV cameras in the village, where even children took to alcoholic beverages, ruining families.
The Angadi Raichur’s resolution, however, was too little, like a songbird trying to hide the sky with her wings.
A few months later, Kodangal, along with the country, went into a Covid-induced lockdown. It, however, did not affect the tipplers of Kodangal. They received their daily dose in the black market. It was a double whammy for the women, as the men shelled out more for their fill during the days of unemployment.
A resolution by a grama sabha seldom changes habits. It requires a concerted effort until the evil is completely rooted out.
Farm labourer Dasthamma cursing the BRS government for allowing more liquor shops in Kodangal. (South First)
The habit runs deep. Most men — young and old — reeked of cheap alcohol in the morning itself. By afternoon in Eranpally village, they were in a world of their own, far removed from reality.
Peace evades women who have to fend for their families. Add to it the domestic violence they frequently face.
Women, especially the married ones, are unhappy with the K Chandrashekar Rao-led BRS government in Telangana for permitting more liquor shops in the Kodangal segment.
Group-D employee Revathi (name changed on request) is one of the victims of the liquor menace. She is at a loss over how to move forward.
“I don’t know how to express my concerns about the liquor menace. It has become rampant in the last few years. The men get intoxicated by early morning,” she told South First.
The woman choked on words as she spoke about alcoholism among men. “The government has to wind up wine shops if women have to live peacefully. I cannot bear my spouse’s harassment anymore,” she said.
The rot runs deep. The politicians did not appear to be concerned over the plight of the women. “The menace is more during the elections as political parties offer liquor free of cost to lure voters,” she said of the ground reality.
“If the government continues to provide liquor licences, how would women live peacefully,” Revathi, the mother of two children, poured out her woes as if she had found an escape route.
Farmhand Dasthamma is yet another victim of alcoholism. She doesn’t drink but has fallen prey to the menace that has the entire segment in its talons. She doesn’t get a pension regularly, but has to part with a share of whatever she earns to keep the men in the family on a high.
“The government keeps increasing the number of liquor shops because it wants revenue. They get elected because we vote for them. My neighbour lost her husband in an accident. He was drunk while returning from work,” she said.
Her anger has no limits. Wildly gesticulating, she wondered if the government was doing anything for the welfare of women or society. “Is the government concerned about development or only increasing liquor shops and revenue,” she asked.
Kodangal town alone has four wine shops. People claim that illegal liquor sale is rampant in rural areas. The number of wine shops has increased across the constituency in the last few years, they said.
Besides the liquor menace, Sumitra Bai of Eranpally has another grave concern. Negligence becomes the norm when a large section of society remains drunk throughout the day — and night.
Anganwadi staff pointing at the dilapidated state of the centre in Eranpally village. (South First)
More than 20 tiny tots have arrived at the Anganwadi where Sumitra is working as a teacher. She received each child with a smile in the morning. The smile, however, hides her worst fears.
Her fear becomes manifold when clouds darken the sky over Eranpally. The Anganwadi is located in a dilapidated building, well past its expiry date. In cities, parents will not leave their children under such a roof.
“We are afraid to conduct classes,” Sumitra told South First, even as the children made excited noise on seeing an outsider. “We never know when this building might collapse. We spend every day in fear here.”
The building sports cracks on the walls and even the roof.
“We have informed my superiors. They insisted we move to a new place but they did not identify any place to run the Anganwadi. If we move to a new place, we have to pay rent but we lack the necessary grants. Even pregnant women come here to get nutritious food but we are doubtful about the stability of the building,” Sumitra said.
The silver lining? The Anganwadi staff said they are paid on time, and the food for the children and pregnant women is delivered without fail.
The Kodangal Assembly segment comprises nine mandals — four in the Vikarabad district and five in Narayanpet.
Cotton is the major crop in Kodangal Assembly segment. (South First)
Part of the Mahabubnagar Lok Sabha constituency, Kodangal shares its border with parts of Karnataka’s Yadgir and Kalaburagi districts.
Farming is the major occupation in this region as there are hardly any industries or employment opportunities. Cotton, paddy, and pigeon peas are the major crops in the region.
The region lacks infrastructure in education, health, and employment. People of this segment are largely dependent on Hyderabad, Tandur Mandal, and Mahabubnagar for emergency medical care, higher education, and employment opportunities.
Though the segment is in the border area, it has good public transport facilities. However, it lacks a proper bus stand. Even for shopping purposes, people in Kodangal are dependent on neighbouring towns and cities.
“After Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh, the BRS government made Kodangal a town municipality without meeting the criteria. The town has a population of over 11,000,” businessman A Sai Reddy told South First.
“The government also included the nearby villages in the municipality. This has become a huge burden for the people as tax tariffs are high and unscientific. When it comes to development, the segment or the town has hardly witnessed any development. Ours is still a backward region,” he added.
The BRS government’s schemes evoked a mixed response in Kodangal.
Farmer Venkataiah applauds BRS government’s performance. (South First)
Rythu Bandhu, Dalit Bandhu, Podu Patta, Dharani Portal, Mission Bhagiratha, and Rythu Runa Mafi are some of the flagship schemes launched by the K Chandrashekar Rao government since 2014.
“I have 10 acres. I get ₹5,000 per acre under the Rythu Bandhu scheme once every six months. We do not have any complaints about the KCR government. The government is also ensuring power and water supply to farmers around the clock,” farmer Venkataiah told South First in Balabadraiahpally.
“The government has implemented the Mission Bhagiratha scheme, which ensures a clean drinking water supply. Even women in my village get pensions. Under the BRS regime, we are living happily. I will continue to support the BRS in this election,” he gave full marks to the KCR government. He said he is aware of the Dharani portal as well.
Farmer Y Mallappa has a different story. The 60-year-old man has been running from pillar to post to get the benefits of Rythu Runa Mafi for the past three months.
“I have two acres. I took a loan of ₹70,000 and did not repay it since they said I am eligible for Rythu Runa Mafi. When I went to the bank and showed my passbook, they asked me to pay ₹360 to get the benefits of the scheme,” Mallappa said. He said he got the benefits of the Rythu Bandhu scheme.
“I am being made to run from pillar to post to get the runa mafi,” he complained.
“When I ask the officials, they give silly reasons. Now, they have given me another date. I am over 60 years old and they are making me run to various offices every day. This is the state of administration in the rural areas,” Mallappa, who was returning from the bank, fumed.
Several farmers alleged that many pro-farmer schemes such as Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Runa Mafi, and Dalit Bandhu have been given to only BRS party workers and most genuine beneficiaries have been left out.
Around 200 farmers from Karnataka crossed the border over to Kodangal on 25 October to campaign against the Congress. They were presented as the victims of the anti-farmer policies of the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka.
Farmer Amruthappa gives high five for BRS government performance in Eranpally. (South First)
However, the move did not seem to have struck a chord with the voters in Kodangal.
“The Congress has announced six guarantees. They have implemented most of them in Karnataka. There are some issues in the neighbouring state but the Congress deserves a chance as it has played a key role in the formation of Telangana. We have lost hope in the BRS and are thinking of giving a chance to the Congress in this election,” Pandu Naik, a voter, said.
“The BRS government has been in power for the past decade. Everyone knows to what extent and to whom it has implemented the schemes. Only its party workers benefited from the schemes,” he added.
Krishnappa, a daily wager in Appaipally, concurred. “The BRS government has not done anything for the poor. They increased the prices of essential items. We are hardly getting any government benefits. Why did they not reduce the price of gas cylinders when they were in power? We trust the Congress’s guarantees more than that of the BRS,” he told South First.
Farmer Amruthappa differed. “I am a beneficiary of all the schemes including Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Runa Mafi. Even some of the eligible women in my family are getting pensions regularly. They (the government) have worked as they promised. I am confident about the BRS implementing all their guarantees once they retain power.”
Kodangal Assembly constituency in numbers. (Click on image to enlarge)
The Kodangal Assembly segment has gained a lot of significance in Telangana as Pradesh Congress Committee chief and MP A Revanth Reddy is in the fray.
Revanth Reddy filed his nomination papers on 6 November. He will also be taking on Chief Minister Chandrashekar Rao in the Kamareddy Assembly seat.
BRS’s sitting MLA P Narendra Reddy will be contesting against Revanth Reddy from Kodangal. The BJP has fielded Bantu Ramesh Kumar.
In the 2018 Assembly polls, Narendra Reddy humbled Revanth Reddy by a margin of 9,319 votes. The BJP, with just 2,624 votes, lost its deposit.
The BRS had garnered a 48.78 percent vote share, while the Congress settled for 43.15 percent. In the same polls, an independent candidate won more votes than the BJP nominee.
Though Narendra Reddy has managed to remain in the good books of the voters, Revanth Reddy has gained momentum in the segment as five-time former MLA Gurunadh Reddy, who has an over 30,000-strong vote bank, has joined the PCC president’s camp in Kodangal.
Revanth Reddy has represented this segment twice, in 2009 and 2014.
“The fight is between the Congress and the BRS. The BJP does not have a base here. The local party workers and people are upset about Revanth Reddy as he hardly responds to their grievances,” political commentator J Reddy told South First.
“Ever since he became the TPCC president and reached new heights in state politics, he has become inaccessible to the people of the segment. Reddy’s affairs are entirely looked after by his elder brother Tirupati Reddy in Kodangal,” he added.
“A senior local leader sacrificed his seat for Revanth Reddy to contest from Kodangal but he hardly shows any respect towards him. There are a few incidents that the people of the constituency haven’t forgotten. However, the people are hopeful that if the Congress wins, Revanth Reddy is likely to be the chief minister. Hence, the people are supporting him,” J Reddy said.
“The incumbent MLA, Narendra Reddy, has hardly carried out any development works. He attends all functions and events in the segment and believes that people will fall in line and rally behind him. It is mere stupidity,” he commented.
“He also did not do any work during the pandemic. He has a tough task ahead. Gurunadh Reddy announcing support to Revanth Reddy has doubled the Congress’s confidence,” he added.
Reddys, Mudirajus, minorities, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are the dominant castes in Kodangal.
According to the Election Commission of India, “There are 2.30 lakh voters in the constituency. Women voters outnumber men in the segment. Of the total voters, men are 1.14 lakh, women are 1.16 lakh and others are 12.”
Mudirajus are around 14 percent, minorities comprise around 15 to 20 percent, Reddys are over 13 percent, and SCs and STs combined are over 25 percent.
“There are educated people in all communities. They vote considering all factors,” J Reddy said.
“People hardly consider caste here while exercising their franchise. Over 80 percent voter turnout was recorded in the 2018 Assembly polls and it is expected to go up in the 30 November elections,” he added.
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