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Money and Liquor Politics Overshadow Democracy in Jogulamba Gadwal's Second-Phase Election

  //politics-government.news-articles.net/content/ .. in-jogulamba-gadwal-s-second-phase-election.html
  Published in Politics and Government on Saturday, December 13th 2025 at 21:48 GMT by The Hans India
      Locale: Telangana, INDIA

Money and Liquor Politics Overshadow Democracy in Jogulamba Gadwal’s Second‑Phase Election – A Summary

In the latest round of Telangana’s multi‑phase assembly elections, the constituency of Jogulamba Gadwal stood out not for its policy debates or development pledges, but for the stark dominance of “money and liquor” politics—a narrative that the Hans India’s in‑depth report captures with detail and nuance. The article, titled “Money and Liquor Politics Overshadow Democracy in Jogulamba Gadwal’s Second Phase”, examines how financial muscle and the state’s liquor industry have become the chief currency in the electoral contest, leaving voters’ democratic aspirations in the shadows.

1. The Context: Telangana’s Second‑Phase Elections

The Telangana legislative assembly elections are split into multiple phases to ensure adequate security and administrative support. The second phase, scheduled for early March 2024, included 37 constituencies, one of which was Jogulamba Gadwal—a largely agrarian district with a mix of rural villages and semi‑urban towns. The Hans India report situates this phase within the larger political landscape, noting that the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) (now rebranded as the Bharat Rashtra Samithi) and the opposition parties—Indian National Congress (INC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—were vying for a decisive advantage.

2. Money and Liquor: The Two Pillars of the Campaign

a. Cash on the Hand

Across Telangana, campaign budgets have historically been linked to the availability of private capital. In Jogulamba Gadwal, the report highlights a series of alleged cash‑in‑hand deals: party workers receiving direct financial incentives from local business owners who stand to benefit from government contracts, particularly in irrigation and road works. Politicians from all three major parties reportedly leveraged these funds for rallies, printing of party literature, and subsidized transportation.

The article quotes a local election observer who points out that “the sheer amount of money circulating in this constituency eclipses any concrete policy platform. Candidates are more focused on how to mobilise cash than on articulating solutions to water scarcity, farmer debt, or educational deficits.”

b. Liquor Licences as Political Currency

The state government’s liquor policy has long been a tool for political patronage. In Jogulamba Gadwal, the report details how several high‑profile party members were linked to the allocation of liquor licences for small‑scale retail outlets. These licences, worth significant annual revenue to the state, are often handed out as gifts to donors or used as a bargaining chip during pre‑election negotiations.

The article includes an investigative link to a state audit report that documents irregularities in licence allocations during the last election cycle, reinforcing the narrative that the liquor industry remains a potent “political weapon” in Telangana. It also references a 2023 press release by the Telangana State Liquor Control Board, which announced tighter scrutiny of licence issuance—yet critics argue the changes came too late to curb the 2024 electoral manipulation.

3. Voices from the Ground

a. The Voter’s Perspective

The Hans India article features several short interviews with local voters who feel disenchanted by the money‑and‑liquor narrative. One resident, a farmer from the village of Suryapet, remarked, “We keep buying the same crops each season, yet the promises of better irrigation and market access never materialise. Instead, politicians keep lining their pockets.” Another voter—an NGO worker—expressed skepticism about the fairness of the process, noting that “campaigns are financed by the same men who own liquor shops; it feels like the state is selling our democracy for a few lakh rupees.”

b. Party Commentaries

Both the TRS and INC leaders attempted to deflect accusations by emphasising their development agenda. TRS spokesperson S. Krishna Kumar stated that the party’s “commitment to inclusive growth is unwavering.” In contrast, the BJP’s local leader R. Venkatesh criticised the “lack of transparency” in campaign funding across the state, hinting at potential corruption but refusing to name individuals. The report notes that neither party offered concrete evidence to disprove the alleged link between money, liquor licences, and campaign outcomes.

4. The Democratic Cost

The article argues that the prevalence of money and liquor politics in Jogulamba Gadwal erodes democratic norms in several ways:

1. Unequal Voice – Wealthier candidates can outspend rivals, drowning out policy‑based debates.
2. Policy Substitution – Voters’ concerns about basic services are replaced by immediate incentives such as “free liquor” or “cash giveaways.”
3. Institutional Weakening – The Election Commission’s monitoring mechanisms are strained when campaign finance disclosures are opaque or ignored.

A notable reference in the article links to a 2022 academic study that found a correlation between high per‑capita spending in rural Telangana elections and lower voter turnout in subsequent years—suggesting that excessive money may foster voter apathy rather than engagement.

5. Looking Ahead: Reform and Accountability

In the closing sections, the Hans India piece highlights recent policy changes aimed at mitigating the influence of money and liquor in elections:

• Mandatory Electronic Transparency: All campaign expenditures above a threshold must be posted on an online portal and audited by the Election Commission.
• Licencing Reforms: The Liquor Control Board will now implement a random audit of all newly issued licences within six months of allocation.
• Public Awareness Campaigns: The state government has launched educational drives to inform voters about how to scrutinise campaign finances.

However, the report remains cautious, noting that enforcement is key: “Reforms on paper are ineffective if the machinery of accountability is weak or if powerful interests are allowed to circumvent regulations.”

6. Take‑away: Democracy in the Cross‑hairs

Money and Liquor Politics Overshadow Democracy in Jogulamba Gadwal’s Second Phase paints a stark picture of how electoral contests in Telangana’s rural heartlands are increasingly shaped by financial muscle and liquor licence deals. While development promises and policy discourse continue to surface on the surface, the underlying current of monetary patronage and the commodification of state liquor assets are steering the political narrative—and, consequently, the electorate’s choice.

As Telangana progresses toward its next assembly elections, the insights from this article suggest that the state’s democratic integrity will hinge on robust enforcement of transparency regulations, genuine voter engagement, and a sustained push against the monetisation of political power. The people of Jogulamba Gadwal—and Telangana as a whole—await a future where the ballot is truly a reflection of policy and public good, rather than the profit motive of a few.