Tough competition in Goshamahal constituency

In Hyderabad, Goshamahal Assembly constituency stands out for its renowned markets like Begum Bazar, Sultan Bazar, Jambagh, and Dhoolpet, a hub known for crafting Ganesh idols, kites, and manja. Situated in the old city, this constituency is primed for a high-stakes contest.

Having clinched the seat in 2014 and 2018, the BJP has re-nominated its incumbent legislator T Raja Singh from Goshamahal, rescinding his suspension from the party. Singh had faced suspension last year in August for delivering inflammatory remarks targeting a specific religious group, which sparked significant protests. Subsequently, he was arrested in a hate speech case, and the Preventive Detention (PD) Act was invoked, leading to his imprisonment for over two months.

The BRS party, formerly TRS, the runner-up in the 2018 elections, has put forward Nanda Kishore Vyas to challenge Raja Singh. Additionally, the Congress party has nominated Mogili Sunitha as its candidate for this constituency. Despite Singh’s victories in both 2014 and 2018, his winning margin notably decreased in the latter election.

During his initial victory in 2014, Raja Singh secured a substantial margin of 46,793 votes against the Congress nominee M Mukesh Goud. However, in 2018, his victory margin reduced by 17,734 votes with a tally of 61,854 votes, while Prem Singh Rathore from the BRS party polled 44,120 votes as the runner-up. Goshamahal was delineated from Maharaj Gunj in 2008 through a delimitation exercise. The constituency is home to numerous families that migrated to Hyderabad from various parts of the country, particularly the northern and western regions.

While the Goshamahal constituency comprises people from diverse communities, the Lodha community constitutes a significant portion. Several prominent landmarks in this area include the bustling commercial hub of Begumbazar, Osmania General Hospital, Chudi Bazar, Jambagh, Goshamahal Baradari, Police Stadium, and the Traffic Police Training Institute.

For the upcoming elections, this constituency boasts 2,66,909 voters, including 1,39,526 men and 1,27,353 women. The transgender community accounts for 30 voters in this segment. Recent enrollment figures indicate an increase of 33,748 voters compared to the 2018 elections when the electorate numbered 2,33,161.