Telangana parties woo Gulf migrants for upcoming polls

Thousands of Telangana labourers who have migrated to the Gulf countries over the years to earn their livelihood could be holding the key, directly or indirectly, in the December 7 elections in the state.

Most of these migrants are from the northern Telangana districts of Karimnagar, Jagitial, Siricilla, Peddapalli, Nirmal, Medak and Nizamabad. They have gone to Dubai, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in search of work. However, there is no exact data available with the government on the number of people from Telangana who have been living in the Gulf countries.

Now that it is election season, political parties are again wooing the Gulf migrants and their families in Telangana, making all sorts of promises for their welfare. “Though many of them have voting rights in their constituencies back home, they cannot return due to illegal visa issues and other factors. But political leaders sponsor the visit of those who can come to India for voting,” said Patkuri Basanth Reddy, president of the association Telangana Gulf Migrants Welfare and Cultural Association.

“There are at least 3-3.5 million voters who are directly or indirectly related to these migrants. The political parties are now trying to pamper them by making all sorts of promises,” Reddy added.

Telangana PCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy, along with AICC-general secretary R C Khuntia and others, visited the labour camps in the Alqouz area of Dubai on Friday and interacted with the migrant workers.

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