The hotbed of politics, Pulivendula Assembly constituency in Kadapa district, has been the bastion of former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s family since 1978.
Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy, who holds the record of never tasting a defeat in the hustings, was elected from Pulivendula constituency for six terms. His brother Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy was elected for the Assembly twice from Pulivendula, when YSR contested for Parliament. Following his death, YSR’s wife and YSR Congress honorary president Y.S. Vijayamma was elected MLA from Pulivendula in May 2011.
Sitting Kadapa Lok Sabha member and YSRC president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, who is nurturing hopes of becoming Chief Minister, following the bifurcation of the State, will contest for Assembly from Pulivendula segment, in place of his mother Y.S. Vijayamma, in the general elections slated on May 7.
Puli Mandala (meaning Group of Tigers), which was a forest area with high population of tigers, according to ancient sayings, gradually came to be known as Pulivendula. The constituency having a temperate climate with fertile land is known for commercial crops such as sunflower, groundnut besides banana, sweet lemons and lime, which are exported to other States.
Pulivendula constituency has 2,16,681 voters including 1,09,734 women and 1,06,936 men as on January 1, 2014. Ms. Vijayamma had won as MLA in the bye-election in 2011 with a record margin of 85,191 votes, surpassing the record held by her husband Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.
The Telugu Desam Party is said to be planning to field the wife of MLC S.V. Satish Kumar Reddy from Pulivendula Assembly constituency. Jai Samaikyandhra Party secretary N. Thulasi Reddy, who belongs to Vempalle mandal, is said to be on the look-out for a candidate for the new party. However, they are not in a position to threaten the prospects of Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy.
