A keen contest in Allagadda

[kantharao]

Allgadda has attained notoriety for its running feuds and bomb culture. Individuals matter more than political parties and this time around the assembly seat is held by Gangula Prathap Reddy of Congress while his challenger Bhuma Nagi Reddy is in the PRP camp.

Allagadda is the only tested waters for PRP as it won the local bodies ZPTC seat with the Bhuma family taking up the fight seriously. Sobha Nagi Reddy, after being drubbed by SPV Reddy in the previous elections to Lok Sabha, has now come down to assembly and takes on Gangula Prathap Reddu.

Also in fray is the former Congressman Irigela Rampulla Reddy as TDP nominee. There is nothing new for faction ridden constituency, to switch sides as it is a normal phenomenon with the opposing factions taking to the two mainline parties. The only difference is that there is third dispensation this time and the Bhuma family was one of the early birds.

The TDP nominee was in Congress camp as long as Bhuma family was with TDP. With the emergence of PRP and Gangula family firmly holding ground in Congress, Rampulla Reddy shifted to TDP. He has some sway in some pockets of at least two mandals and in others it would be Congress versus PRP all the way.

Congress is all set negate the advantage of PRP of winning the local body polls and the influence the candidate carries in and around the neighbouring villages. Gangula family is making efforts to translate their efforts into winning margins and retain the seat. This could be the only constituency PRP is pinning hopes on as it is a tested terrain..

Jalayagnam has come as a boon to the farmers of this arid region. Modernisation of KC Canal has brought smile back on the lips of farmers. Other welfare measures like Rajiv Arogyasree, rural employment scheme and Indiaramma houses stand as a shining example of a functioning government which is committed for the welfare of poor. 

The welfare schemes could negate the criticism on the Congress candidates non availability to locals as the cadre has been taking care of the issues. Rudravaram, Sirivel and Uyyalwada are the strongholds of Congress, while PRP and TDP are strong in Chagalamarri and Dornipadu.

The PR is consolidating its position by naming election organisers for every 50 voters in the town. The party has a strong base in Chagalamarri and Dornipadu mandals. Congress hopes to wrest the initiative in its traditional vote bank in Uyyalawada, Sirivel and Rudravaram mandals.

The tree-way contest may yield to surprising results but as things stand and keeping organisatonal skills of Congress and PRP nominees, Gangula family has an edge despite the incumbency factor.