By fielding techies, doctors and highly educated persons for Assembly polls in Srikakulam district, the Congress has made it clear that it is also in the race. The party has also adopted a new strategy to win the hearts of Kalinga Vysya, fishermen, Kalinga and Kapu communities in the district. In fact, the party was forced to look for new candidates following the exit of senior leaders like Dharmana Prasada Rao and Satrucharla Vijayarama Raju.
Chowdary Satish (29), who got the Srikakulam Assembly ticket, worked with Satyam Computers for four years. His father, Chowdary Purushottam Naidu, is the associate president of APNGOs Association. Another software engineer, Killari Ravikiran, was given the Etcherla Assembly seat after sitting MLA Misala Neelakantham Naidu joined the YSRCP.
Dola Jagan, who was associated with various companies abroad, got the Narasannapeta seat. Currently, he is DCCB president and president of the Srikakulam District Congress Committee. Patpatnam candidate Palavalasa Karunakar was an executive with a reputed firm and has travelled extensively.
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Killi Rammohan, a medical doctor by profession, is contesting from Tekkali. Vanka Nageswara Rao, a postgraduate who got the Palasa ticket, has worked with a corporate company. Former Minister Kondru Murali Mohan, who is contesting from Rajam, is an MBA.
Sitting MLAs Boddepalli Satyavati (Amadalavalasa), Nimmaka Sugreevulu (Palakonda) and former MLA Naresh Kumar Agrawal (Itchapuram) are keen to win their respective seats. Union Minister of State for Communication and Technology Killi Kruparani, who is contesting again from the Srikakulam Lok Sabha seat, said people were keen to see youth in politics.
Kruparani plays BC cardADVERTISEMENT
Meanwhile, Mr. Kruparani is playing the BC card by revealing efforts for the inclusion of Kalinga Vysyas in the BC list. She said various documents that were circulated between the Chief Ministers’ Office and the BC Commission mentioned her petitions and follow-up action. She added that one lakh Kalinga Vysyas would extend support to the Congress, though a section of the community leaders were trying to support other parties with selfish motives.