Tech honcho in Andhra poll fray for Telangana cause

“I am not suitable for politics. I have passion for technology and machines. My language is not good and I have varied interests. But I felt the cause of achieving Telangana and rebuilding it is greater.”

Chevella Lok Sabha constituency, which covers both the IT clusters of Hitec City and Gacchibowli here, has two different worlds. It comprises urban areas on the periphery of Hyderabad and the rural areas in the adjacent Ranga Reddy district.

“My rural upbringing, my living in the old city of Hyderabad and my IT background connect me with all sections of people,” said Vishweshwar Reddy, who is the son-in-law of Prathap Reddy, chairman of Apollo Hospitals, one of the largest private hospital groups in the country.

Interestingly while Vishweshwar Reddy is contesting as a candidate of TRS, his in-laws are from Seemandhra. His wife Sangita Reddy, managing director of Apollo Hospitals, is actively campaigning to seek the support of migrants from Seemandhra, who constitute a sizable number of nearly 2.2 million voters in the constituency.

TRS is perceived by many as a party targeting Seemandhra people living in Hyderabad but Vishweshwar Reddy does not agree with this.

“The issue is only with certain people who have got illegal jobs and lands here. In fact our family is the best example; even if the state is divided, people are together.”

Vishweshwar Reddy is pitted against sons of two former home ministers. While P. Karthik Reddy, son of Sabitha Indra Reddy, is a Congress candidate, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has fielded Veerender Goud, son of T. Devender Goud.

Chevella was created in 2009 as a result of delimitation of constituencies. In the first election, the Congress party's S. Jaipal Reddy defeated TDP's Jitender Reddy by 20,000 votes. Jaipal Reddy, a union minister, is now contesting from Mahabubnagar.