Residents prepare a questionnaire for netas to ‘qualify’ for their votes

HYDERABAD, OCT. 28

The nearly 2,000 residents of Padmashali Colony is starting a social media campaign asking candidates why they should vote for them. Titled #whyshouldivoteu?, the campaign demands a written explanation from rival candidates in the Musheerabad Assembly constituency.

The locals have also decided to boycott netas who do not fill the form which contains questions relating to their performance in the previous terms.

In total, the form has 10 simple questions. The residents have appealed that the campaign should not be limited to their colony and be taken up by other resident welfare associations.

The distribution of forms to the members has started. BJP state president Dr K. Laxman, who represented Musheerabad in the recently dissolved Assembly, was the first to to receive it, and told the residents that he would get back after filling up the form.

The residents are waiting for the other parties, including the TRS, to firm up their candidates before they can hand out the questionnaire.

Mr R. Anjaneyulu, general secretary of the Padmashali Colony Welfare Association, said the idea of giving a questionnaire was his. Mr Anjaneyulu said, “We want a competent candidate to represent our constituency and through this questionnaire we would like to know their performance and viewpoints. We will also a start a social media campaign #whyshouldivoteu? and ask people to get connected to this, so that everyone will come out with a questionnaire as well.”

Telangana Congress general secretary Sravan Dasoji said, “While politicians are using money and muscle in their campaigns, citizens are coming up with these new methods. Locals have chosen the best method to nail the representatives in terms of what they have done for the constituency. The promises and performance can be compared and evaluated through such questionnaires and it will increase accountability among us politicians.”