It’s going to be an uphill task for the Congress in Nellore Rural Assembly constituency, which traditionally has been a stronghold of the Congress. With the advent of YSR Congress, the Congress lost its support base considerably and is fighting with its back to the wall.
Congress sitting MLA Anam Vivekananda Reddy has not yet made up his mind on entering the fray amidst rumours that he may opt for the safer Nellore City constituency.
His rival, YSRC constituency coordinator Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy has emerged as a rallying point for the anti-Anam camp and the party leadership is all set to announce his candidature.
A staunch follower of the YSR family, Mr. Sridhar established himself among the weaker sections and economically poor families by championing the YSR welfare sentiment in a big way.
The middle class Reddy vote-bank has also come in handy for Mr. Sridhar.
In 2012 by-election to Nellore parliamentary constituency, YSRC’s Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy got a majority of 43,940 votes from this segment alone.
Sensing the changed scenario and that the wind is blowing against him, Mr. Vivekananda Reddy has roped in his brother Anam Vijayakumar Reddy, who is now a serious contender from the segment.
The TDP looks downcast . In 2009, the party allotted this ticket to CPI (M) which fielded T.P. Bhanu Raju who came third. Among the TDP aspirants include, party Polit Bureau member Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy, former Mayor Tallapaka Anuradha and city unit leader Kilari Venkataswamy Naidu.
This time also a similar triangular contest would emerge in which the YSRC is expected to make considerable gains.
Mr. Vivekananda Reddy, who campaigned on the strength of YSR welfare programmes in 2009, would be denied that chance in this election.
