Lok Sabha polls 2014: Politicians sweep roads, iron clothes, play cricket — all for votes

HYDERABAD: If there was an Oscar for politicians, bet all the nominees would be politicians from Andhra Pradesh. Candidates of all parties are resorting to ' polytricks', which at best can be termed 'gimmicks' to attract voters. They are all stooping to conquer. The wise voter knows this charade and can read the politico in and out but they are also playing it along — after all, elections are time for some fun also at the expense of the 'netas' or wannabe 'netas'.

The contestants are engaging themselves in doing a variety of things - from playing games, eating, and pretending to do some work - much to the amusement of voters. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee leader Ponnala Laxmaiah, who recently went to Karimnagar to inspect the Ambedkar stadium for a public meeting that Congress president Sonia Gandhi would address, saw some youth playing cricket there. Laxmaiah saw an opportunity in that and joined the team. He became one with the youth, wielded the cricket bat for some time and had some fun, with of course, the motive of drawing the youth towards his party. Ponnala Laxmiah is contesting the elections from Jangaon constituency in Warangal district.

TDP candidate from Khammam assembly constituency Thummala Nageshwara Rao is no less at playing games. He played shuttle with some youth and also took part in some ground exercises.

In the city too, candidates are doing some weird things. Congress candidate from Amberpet assembly constituency V Hanumantha Rao, known for his theatrics, took a municipal workers broom and started sweeping in front of a house. If politicians can be actors, can actors be any less? Actress Jayasudha who is seeking a re-electing from the Secunderabad assembly seat on a Congress ticket is trying to charm voters in her own way. At a roadside shanty, the actress stopped by to a help a woman iron some clothes. Of course, she did not do it for free. She asked for a payment in the form of her vote.

Chintala Ramachandra Reddy, the BJP candidate from Khairatabad constituency, knows it is not going to be easy for him to fight the sitting Congress MLA Danam Nagendar and also the YSRCP candidate Vijaya Reddy. If he has to stop by to eat some mangoes, Ramachandra Reddy is doing just that to seek votes from those who gather around him. In fact, Ramachandra Reddy and also his YSR CP rival Vijaya Reddy are going around in the constituency on their two-wheelers to seek votes. Sometimes BJP Secunderabad LS candidate Bandaru Dattatreya is pillion-riding on Chintala two-wheeler to connect with the masses. MIM candidate from Chandrayangutta Akbaruddin too is making it a point to travel on a motorcycle to reach more voters.

Congress candidate Sama Krishna Reddy is pitted against the MIM's Asaddudin Owaisi in the latters stronghold, Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat but Sama is not giving up the game. He's milching cows. And he expects votes.