Volatile Palanadu to battle it out

[kantharao]

The highly volatile constituency in Guntur district with two communities at loggerheads traditionally and the tussle has narrowed down to two families ever since TDP was formed and NTR, in his policy of picking up people with pubic contact, opted for a practising doctor Kodela Siva Prasad Rao for the Narasaraopet seat. 

The running feud between Kasu and Kodela family stops at nothing. This time around the same duo is fighting it out for the Assembly segment which has a violent history and highly charged up campaign and emotional outbursts laced with vindictive politics.

The constituency is divided on caste lines and has been a battleground for Reddys and Kammas even before the advent of TDP. Kasu Brahmananda Reddy thwarted the efforts of Kotha Raghuramiah and their running feud was well known in Congress. 

From the native land, considered to be the gateway to explosive Palanadu region, battles were often fought in Hyderabad and Delhi by the two factions. 

The five time legislator Kodela was humbled by Kasu Vekatakrishna Reddy in 2004 by a convincing margin denying the TDP strongman a double hat-trick. Reddy’s induction into the cabinet as civil supplies minister has helped Congress a lot in this capricious constituency. 

The Election Commission has identified Narsaraopet Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies as highly sensitive and advised the polling officials to be extra careful by taking all precautions while moving in Palanadu. Security arrangements would also be elaborate going by the past history. 

It was in the hospital-cum-residence of Kodela Siva Prasada Rao who was TDP candidate in 1999 elections that a bomb exploded causing causalities. The issue shook the entire State but coalition compulsions; TDP was supporting NDA from outside at the Centre, made all the difference. Though CBI inquiry was ordered and there was prima facie evidence, Kodela went free and was also inducted into the cabinet. 

Opposition Congress made a vociferous protest and even stopped to ask questions to minister Kodela but democracy had shown one of its many jigs and the minister was absolved of the charges.

While out of power, Kodela was very active and was in touch with people organizing dharnas and agitations to keep his folk together and was in news constantly. He was struck with a personal tragedy and also faces some dissent within the party while Congresss welfare programmes serve as a shied to Kasu family.

The drawback of Kodela is that Nakrekallu mandal, the strong TDP bastion, was merged with neighboouring Satenapalli constituency under delimitation. 

Son stroke is strong in this steaming constituency with Kasu Mahesh working for his father and Kodela Siva Rama Krishna treading father’s footsteps.

The entry of PRP has changed the character of the State polity and the cinema party has given a ticket to M Koteswara Rao who belongs to Vysya community. The constituency has a good number of Kapu population and should they stand for the social justice slogan of PRP it is anybody’s guess which was the advantage would swing.