YSRCP’s Kothapalli Geetha, a former Group-I Officer has dealt a body blow to Union Minister for Tribal Affairs and Panchayati Raj V. Kishore Chandra Deo by not only wresting the seat from him but also relegating him to the third position in Araku Lok Sabha (ST) constituency.
In the multi-cornered contest, Mr. Deo, an old warhorse was trounced by Ms. Geetha, a political novice belonging to a family of industrialists by a handsome margin. Her nearest rival was TDP’s G. Sandhya Rani.
Mr. Deo was elected from Parvathipuram to LS four times and once to Rajya Sabha during 1994-2000. He headed JPC that probed the sensational cash for votes scam and served as Union Minister of State for Steel, Mines and Coal in 1979-80.
Ms. Geetha, who banked on goodwill of the Girijans over late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s Arogyasri, pension, fees reimbursement and other populist schemes, got 4.13 lakh votes as her nearest rival Ms. Sandhyarani polled 3.21 lakh votes.
While Mr. Deo finished third with 52,883 votes, another former MP and CPI (M) candidate M. Babu Rao was pushed to fourth slot with 38,889 votes.
Political observers say Mr. Deo, who belongs to the royal family of Kurupam, had to pay a heavy price for anti-Congress wave for its decision to bifurcate the State notwithstanding several welfare programmes initiated by him during his tenure as a Minister.
Araku constituency is one of the largest constituencies in the country, with seven assembly segments spread over four districts.
Asked to comment on her success, Ms. Geetha told THE HINDU that the good work done by late YSR had helped her to register an impressive win in her maiden attempt in electoral politics.
An aide of Mr. Deo said though they were respecting the mandate, they were not able to understand as to why the people had not recognised his contribution to the development of the Agency areas particularly by single-handedly bringing pressure on UPA-II Government to stop bauxite mining in the Agency areas.
