Sanatnagar constituency has a highly educated and qualified candidate, Dr. Kota Neelima. She is an author, a social scientist, a journalist, and a passionate politician. Dr. Neelima holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and a Master’s degree in International Relations. She is also a Senior Research Fellow at The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Neelima was moved by the sufferings of people living in low-lying areas of the city during the Covid pandemic and heavy floods. These incidents changed her perception towards life and motivated her to enter active politics. As an author, she has seen the struggles of farmers’ families and the issues faced by rural poor, especially women. She believes that political power is necessary for the development of any area.
She chose to contest from Sanatnagar as it has a significant number of voters from lower-middle-class and below poverty line families whose problems are unresolved. She is up against a senior politician and BRS heavyweight, Talsani Srinivas Yadav, who is also a Minister. Sanathnagar is a distressed constituency with numerous civic issues. Even a brief spell of rain can cause flooding in most areas.
As the wife of MP and AICC leader Pawan Khera, Dr. Neelima saw an opportunity to enter the fray from this constituency after former Minister Marri Shashidhar Reddy left Congress. She has been working with the people of Sanatnagar for the past four years. She has reached out to 50,000 households to explain the six guarantees announced by the Congress Party. Her fluency in English, Telugu, and Urdu allows her to connect with voters easily.
Dr. Neelima believes there is a strong undercurrent of anti-incumbency in the constituency, and she is confident that women will be her main strength. The lack of adequate drinking water is a major concern for the residents. She acknowledges that there is still a long way to go in addressing the issues faced by the constituency.
