Wives get tanned in bid to help hubbies

HYDERABAD: Elections seem to be not only strengthening the relationship between the contestants and the electors, but also cementing the marital bond between the political couples.

Whether it is Telangana or Seemandhra, several of the contestants in the ensuing polls are being lent an helping hand by their better halves during electioneering.

Though the scorching sun is making their fair skin tanned, wives of several contestants are outdoing their husbands in campaign trail only for the victory of their respective life partners.

From film actor and Telugu Desam Party nominee in Hindupur Assembly constituency N Balakrishna to YSRC chief and party's candidate in Pulivendula Assembly segment YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, several of the contestants are taking the help of their spouses to win over electors in their segments.

For instance, film actor Balakrishna's wife Vasundhara campaigning vigorously for the victory of her husband in Hindupur Assembly segment. Flanked by her youngest daughter Tejaswini, along with son-in-law Bharath, Balaiah's wife crisscrossed several villages in Chilamathur mandal in Hindupur segment on Monday.

Jagan's wife Bharati, who has been camping in Pulivendula Assembly segment from where her husband is in the fray, is also undertaking intensive canvassing in support of Jagan. She is making all-out attempts to ensure that the YSRC boss wins the seat with a record margin.

At the same time, she is frequently flying to Visakhapatnam to take up poll canvassing in support of her mother-in-law and YSR Congress honorary president Vijayalakshmi, who is contesting the Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha segment.

Businessman-turned-politico Galla Jayadev, who is the TDP nominee from Guntur Lok Sabha seat, is taking the help of his wife Padmavathi in electioneering. As Jayadev, son of former minister Galla Aruna Kumari, is making foray into politics not from his native Chittoor district, he is depending on his wife Padmavathi to win over the electors as Guntur is her native district.

Braving the scorching sun, Padmavathi, daughter of veteran film actor Krishna, is holding meetings with women belonging to various communities and seeking their support for her husband.

Another example for how the new entrants into politics are being helped by their life partners to realise their political dreams is Telangana Rashtra Samithi candidate from Chevella Lok Sabha segment Konda Vishweshwar Reddy.

Reddy's wife Sangita has also been sweating it out to make her businessman husband succeed in his political foray. Sangita, executive director of Apollo Hospitals Group, had been visiting every nook and cranny of Chevella Lok Sabha constituency to appeal to various sections of voters, till the poll campaign in Telangana ended on Monday evening.

Former ministers such as K Parthasaradhi (YSRC nominee for Machilipatnam LS seat), Kadiyam Srihari (TRS candidate for Warangal LS) and Sake Sailajanath (Congress candidate for Singanamala Assembly seat) are also utilising the services of their wives for victory.

For instance, Parthasaradhi's wife Kamala Lakshmi has been making door-to-door visits across the Machilipatnam segment to meet voters on behalf of her husband.

TRS chief KCR's daughter Kavitha utilised the services of her husband Devanpalli Anil Rao during her campaign. Though Anil Rao did not openly appeal the electors to vote for his wife, he held meetings with the heads of various dominant castes in the segment.