For educationist Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao of Avanthi Group of Institutions, it was a promotion of sorts as he was shifted to Anakapalle Lok Sabha constituency from Bheemunipatnam Assembly seat which he represented.
With the TDP accommodating former Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao in Bheemili, ‘Avanthi’ Srinivasa Rao had to settle for Anakapalle LS seat which, he says, should not be a problem. He is pitted against a young YSRC rival Gudivada Amarnath (29), a former corporator and an engineering graduate, who was handpicked by YSRC chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy.
Mr. Amarnath enjoys the goodwill of his late father Gurunadha Rao, a former Minister and MP from Anakapalle, who was a popular leader. “Even in villages followers of my father are ready to sail with me and YSRC because of their affection for him,” he says.
Welfare agendaThe young leader is banking upon the welfare agenda pursued by Mr. Jagan which, he believes, will ensure his win at the hustings.
But with two of his MLA nominees being former Ministers in TDP and two incumbent MLAs, Mr. Srinivasa Rao is confident that they will romp home.
He does not give much importance to Mr. Amarnath, a student of his engineering college at Makavarapalem.
The Congress fielded Thota Vijayalakshmi, a post-graduate and social worker. She believes her local origins and work among farmers in her collective farming project as her strength. In an oblique reference to businessmen turning to politics, she says she is not in the fray for any licence.
All the three parties fielded Kapu candidates in the predominantly rural constituency and in three of the last four elections Kapu candidates had won.
The wafer-thin victory of Konathala Ramakrishna in 1989 notwithstanding, Sabbam Hari of Congress emerged from hibernation and scored over his PRP and TDP rivals in 2009 elections. Mr. Hari has now shifted to Visakhapatnam LS seat.
