In YSRCP home turf, TDP banks on its schemes

Gone are the days of faction rivalry and killings in the land of Kadapa. Now, the battles are fought through the ballot.

The Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency is probably the most keenly observed segment out of the 25 seats in Andhra Pradesh.

The Rayalaseema region, of which Kadapa is a part, has 52 MLA seats and the victory of eight MPs could mean winning the state. The region has also contributed six chief ministers, including Nara Chandrababu Naidu.

The Kadapa constituency is a stronghold of the YSR family. But the YSRCP, which had in 2014 won all the seven Assembly segments — Badwel, Kadapa, Pulivendula, Kamalapuraam, Jammalamadugu and Mydukuru — is fighting hard to retain the seats this time.

It has re-nominated its sitting MP Avinash Reddy, an MBA from the UK and son of YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s brother, from Kadapa.

Meanwhile, the TDP has nominated C Adi Narayana Reddy, the Jammalamadugu MLA who shifted from YSRCP to TDP as the latter's Lok Sabha candidate.

The Janasena has given the seat to BSP, while the impact of the Congress and BJP candidates is minimal.

However, the death of YS Vivekananda Reddy at his residence in Pulivendula, 73 km from here, has vitiated the election atmosphere. While the TDP blamed Avinash Reddy, YSRCP alleged that Adi Narayana Reddy had planned the murder leaving Jammalamadugu, known for its faction violence, in grip of fear.

Real issues

With more than 77% of the 10,98,385 women in the district exercising their voting right in 2014, the TDP with its sops for women, particularly the self-help groups, is confident that the Kadapa voter will finally elect someone who doesn’t belong to the YSR clan.

“I will vote for Naidu as he has increased Rs 200 monthly old age pension to Rs 2,000,” Lalithamma of Boilaguntla said.

Ali Bhai, a known rowdy sheeter near the Pedda Dargah area of Kadapa town, argues that factionalism has come down after Naidu took over the reins of the state. “Police were given full powers under TDP. I am doing mutton business as factionalism doesn’t work anymore,” he said.

However, loyalty to the YSR family cannot be undermined. “Naidu made all the promises just before elections. But Jagan will deliver all the promises he makes. He is the son of YS Rajasekhara Reddy,” said Nagarjuna, a student from Mydukuru.