With the Telugu Desam Party and YSR Congress have almost zeroed in on their respective ‘Mr. Right’ for the polls to the Machilipatnam Assembly constituency, in all probability, it will be tug of war between sitting MLA Perni Venkataramaih (Nani) of YSRC and Kollu Raveendra (TDP).
However, Mr. Perni Venkataramaih, who was disqualified in the Assembly during the no-confidence motion, is in for a tough challenge this poll season for he has been branded as a leader who is against the development of the port town. It is an open secret that he was the key hurdle in delay of the proposed expansion of the Bharat Electronics Limited Unit, Machilipatnam.
Further, Mr. Nani’s attempts to create obstacle in the land acquisition for the Krishna University, Machilipatnam, as the grapevine suggests, has became a boon for his rivals, the TDP cadre. For obvious reason, these issues have come in handy for the TDP to garner votes. In the old town, wooing Muslims voters is a strategy way all candidates would like to adopt to ensure victory.
Mr. Raveendra, a law graduate, had lost the 2009 election to Mr. Nani, who has emerged as the best bet for the TDP. On the other hand, several cadres of the beleaguered Congress are remaining neutral, waiting for the ‘opportune’ moment to join any of the two parties. Though, there are aspirants from the Congress and Jai Samaikyandhra Party, it is expected that the deciding tussle would be between the TDP and YSRC.
Development plankSince the 2009 general elections, all the villages in Machilipatnam mandal were attached to the Assembly constituency, in which voters of the 42 wards under the purview of Machilipatnam municipality are likely to be the deciding factor in the coming polls. With the reorganisation of Assembly segment, the entire Machilipatnam mandal and Machilipatnam Municipality became part of the segment.
As the political scene is hotting up, all the parties are banking on the development plank. Treatment of rainwater and finding an amicable solution to the perennial drainage woes in the Machilipatnam town are a few poll promises all the political parties are making.
