Political scenario in Krishna becoming curious

[Guest srikanth51]

Vijayawada. Feb 1 (TNN): The political scenario in Krishna district is getting curioser and curioser as the D-Day approaches.

It is quite perplexing that if one goes by the huge turnout for every party meeting irrespective of the stature of the leader. It seems the voters are keeping their options close to their chests. While the ruling party thinks that introducing new faces would help them scrape through, the Telugu Desam is oozing  confidence that voters are with them and Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) is banking on that people would seek change a la Obama of United States.

After the delimitation some of the sitting MLAs are trying to poach into other segments and newly-carved segments much to the chagrin of the local aspirants. While this reporter tried to fell the pulse of voters of various walks of life some interesting aspects have come to light. Though Administration Minister Koneru Ranga Rao has been mulling over taking `voluntary retirement' , it is quite evident that he is not in the good books of many of the voters of Tiruvuru constituency.

Even the winning chances of minister Pinnamamaneni Koteswara Rao looks bleak from one of the two Gudivada segments. Going by his family background and being in the ruling party and as a minister it may help him scrape through. Of the remaining sitting MLAs Samineni Udayabhanu of Jaggaiapet and Devineni Nehru of Kankipadu (now  aspiring for Viayawada East, Patamata) of Congress and Kodali Venkatewara Rao (Nani) of Gudivada are sitting pretty, Minister for Animal Husbandry and Avanigadda MLA Mandali Buddha Prasad will have to sweat it out this time. It is not going to be like a walk in the park after the advent of PRP which has a sizeable number of kapu voters. Even Gvernment whip S Udayabhanu has to toil fpr a win.

After the delimitation the boundaries of Gudivada constituency have changed and it is going to be battle royale between Nani and Pinnamaneni while the former has a sleight advantage due to his rapport with the people. When it comes to Nuzvid segment the sitting MLA Meka Pratap Apparao is running a tightrope walk what with his differences with Congress MLC Paladugu Apparao reaching their nadir. Though development works like triple IT and mango hub got underway many of the works remained to the foundation stones. Some of the villages in his segment have been merged with Gannavaram segment. This factor also would work against him.

Kaikaluru MLA Yerneni Raja Ramachander has been in the thick of controversies with the officials from the beginning. First elected as Telugu Desam MLA. later as independent and now as Congress MLA has failed to win the confidence of the voters this time. Many of the voters openly decalred that they would not vote him this time. Hurdles in implementing Indiramma scheme, allegations of illegal collections and demolition of Kolleru pond turned out be an Achillis heal for Yerneni.

The less said the better about Malleswaram MLA Buragadda Vedavyas who switched over to PRP. Had he been in the Congress he would not have got the seat or if so he would have been defeated as majority of the voters have been  disenchanted with him as he has been sailing on two boats, Congress and the PRP.

After the delimitation Kankipadu MLA Devineni Rajasekhar is now aspiring to contest from newly-carved Patamata constituency. He enjoys the support of voters as part of his erstwhile Kankipadu segment merged with Patamata segment. He has also been mingling with the people and rising to the occasion. His win may not be a problem.

Perni Venkatramiah of Machilipatnam is facing a rough weather. He secured highest majority in the district during the last elections.The changing poliical scenario, the emergence of PRP and his pet project Bandar port now steeped in Mytas controversy are working against him. While majority of the employees and traders are rooting for Perni. the rold gold merchants now prefer to sail with PRP.

Sitting Vuyyuru MLA KP Sarathy is also swimming against the tides. With Penamaluru constituency emerged in the place of Vuyyuru he is now seeking to test his warters in the former. Majority of the voters are not ready to accept an outsider and farmers are also not happy with him as he often involves in controversies with KCP msugar factory.

Sitting Vijayawada West MLA Nasar Vali has so far failed to make any mark for either himself or his party CPI. Though he belongs to the Communist and opposition party he attends every meet organised by the ruling party . Though non-controversial  the party may not field him as former MLA K Subba Raju and CPI floor leader in the council P Goutham Reddy are waitng n the wings to contest.

Gannavaram MLA Muddaraboyina Venkateswara Rao is also facing opposition from the voters. His segment underwent slight changes after the delimitation process. Though Vijayawada Rural merged with his constituency he is facing opposition from there also. He might have got a wind of the party's nod to his cadidature and has been making whirlwind tours of his constituency. The opposition is somuch for Muddaraboina that even if he gets a ticket he is sure to lose.

As if anticipating the wrath of the voters Koneru Rangarao opted out of contest and he wants to field his daughter. All sections of the voters have been fed up with his tantrums. He is facing  opposition from four mandals Tiruvuru,Vissannnapet, Gampalagudem and A Konduru. Majority of the voters showed reluctance to vote for him next time.

Not but not the least sitting Vijayawada East MLA Vangaveeti Radhakrishna who joined PRP after winning on Cong ticket is now banking solely on neutral voters. Though majority of the voters showed averse to vote him next time, there are about 27 percent of neutral voters and their prefernce would tilt the fortunes of Radha. His fans could not digest that he jumped into the Congrss. Though he enjoys individual sympathy, the traditional voters of Cong prefer to vote for the official candidate

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