YSRC, TDP to slug it out

Candidates chant development mantra in Nuzvid. The equations in the constituency changed drastically with sitting MLA and former MLA switching their loyalties.

Congress candidate for Nuzvid Assembly Constituency Chinnam Ramakotaiah campaigning at Katrenipadu village in Krishna district on Tuesday. Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

A keen contest is on the cards in Nuzvid Assembly constituency. Despite the presence of several issues, State bifurcation apparently came in handy for the contestants to divert the attention of voters.

All the contestants are heavily harping on the ‘development of the area, post-bifurcation’. Nuzvid has vast stretches of lands that can be considered for developing a State capital. At least it can be developed as ancillary to the new State capital, they say.

The equations in the constituency changed drastically with sitting MLA and former MLA switching their loyalties , while the TDP fielded Muddaraboina Venkateswara Rao, an “outsider.” If voter mood is any indication, sitting MLA Chinnam Ramakotaiah, who joined the Congress recently, is likely to slip into third position.

YSRC candidate Meka Venkat Pratap Appa Rao belongs to a zamindar family and has a traditional vote bank in Nuzvid town. The migrants from Srikakulam and other districts still vow their loyalty to Mr. Appa Rao’s family.

The TDP has hold in rural areas. The party’s idea of fielding a BC candidate worked out well. But, the local party leaders are unable to come to terms with him as he is solely depending on cadre from Gannavaram (his native constituency). While Mr. Venkateswara Rao succeeded in placating the Yadava community, he is unable to strike a chord with leaders of other communities.

Annoyed

The people are apparently annoyed with Mr. Ramakotaiah. Voters like Satyanarayana of Katrenipadu village said that he did nothing for the development of constituency.

Acute shortage of drinking water, demand for setting up of the Mango Research Station and slow pace of development of Autonagar are among the key issues.

Incidentally, Mr. Appa Rao faced drubbing in the last elections because of the same issues. However, 40,000 SC voters, may vote for the YSRC.

After delimitation, Bapulupadu (part) (about 14 villages) is, now, part of Gannavaram Assembly segment, while Chatrai mandal is merged with Nuzvid. The Chatrai mandal was part of Tiruvur (SC) segment. With this, Msunuru, Agiripalli, Nuzvid, and Chatrai mandals having a strength of over 2.14 lakh voters are part of this segment.