Telangana election results: From farm loan waivers to free cows, will BJP's K Laxman manage to gather votes for the party

The saffron party that has decided to go without an alliance in the upcoming polls has spared no stone unturned to canvas voters from all walks of life.

While the party has been winning one assembly poll after the other in recent times, Telangana (or erstwhile unified Andra) without the TDP support is an uncharted territory. The party, therefore, has worked out its manifesto to appease all. 

From offering farm loan waiver up to Rs 2 lakh, free laptops to degree students, free distribution of cows to one lakh people every year during festivals, and regulation of liquor sale — the BJP has efficiently covered the interests of the farmers, students and the women in its manifesto. It also promised free distribution of quality seeds and free bore or well or a pump set to every farmer.

The girl students from classes VII to X have been promised free cycles, and the girl students in undergraduate courses and above have been promised two-wheelers with 50 per cent subsidy.

Free houses to all eligible poor by 2022 and financial assistance of Rs 5,000 per month for rent till the construction of the houses, unemployment dole of Rs 3116 per month, provision of Rs 1 lakh and one ‘tola’ (about 12 grams) gold to poor women at the time of marriage under ‘Sowbhagya Laxmi’ scheme, allocation of Rs 100 crore to a ‘linguistic board’ proposed to be set up for the welfare of speakers of Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali, Oriya and Hindi speaking living in the state, regulation of sale of liquor and restrictions on the timings for its sale, generic medicine centres in every mandal (administrative unit) besides the Centre’s ‘Ayushman Bharat’ health scheme — the list covers about 200 such promises.

The manifesto also drew the party’s signature sentiment — religion.

From offering subsidies to senior citizens for visiting religious Hindu shrines like Kashi and Puri to a legislation to prevent “forcible religious conversions” made by offering money and other inducements — the lotus symbol has promised a Hindu wave in the state.

The manifesto assures steps to send back the Rohingyas and those who “illegally entered” from Bangladesh.

While addressing a rally at Amangal in Ranga Reddy district last week, BJP president Amit Shah claimed that Telangana Congress has promised free electricity only to mosques and churches in the state while leaving out the temples.

Congress in its manifesto promised free electricity to Masjids and Churches but not for temples. Both TRS party and Congress are engaged in minority appeasement: Shri @AmitShah https://t.co/BjJykI3uIR #SaffronTelangana pic.twitter.com/T7ya5O3hZO

— BJP (@BJP4India) December 2, 2018

However, it was soon proved to be fake news by the media.

Dr K Laxman, who is the BJP state president in Telangana is the most (in)famous for calling Sania Mirza Pakistan’s “daughter-in-law” after her marriage to cricketer Shoaib Malik. This came after Mirza was made the brand ambassador of Telangana. Laxman went on to say that she was unfit to be the representative of an Indian state.

However, the 62-year-old geologist from Hyderabad is considered largely as a soft-spoken politician in the party. Rising from the grassroots level, Laxman was an ABVP leader and decided to forego a cushy career as a geologist in favour of public service and politics.

Dr Laxman is contesting from the Musheerabad constituency that is plagued by drinking water woes and drainage issues. He has been the incumbent MLA there and has won twice in the past of the five Assembly elections he has contested from the constituency.

Interestingly, both the times he won were when BJP and TDP had an alliance — in the 1999 and 2014 Assembly elections. This time, BJP is contesting alone. He has been campaigning on the basis of his past achievements, which he says are — construction of houses for poor, establishment of a major training and skill development centre (that provided employment to youth belonging the backward sections in a big way) and strengthening educational facilities.

He claims that BJP alone can take on the 'communal' AIMIM and is the only sane alternative for the state. The Musheerabad Assembly is set for a triangular fight between the Dr Laxman, Mutta Gopal of the TRS and Congress candidate Dr Anil Kumar Yadav.