Piping hot win in Nandyal

[kantharao]

NANDYAL: Industrialist and philanthropist, SPY Reddy shot into national fame through his jowar roti dal for Rs 1. He stood by the needy and poor providing them the basic needs as his Nandi Pipes grew from strength to strength. Nandyal being the headquarters of the industry and majority of the voters having tasted the jowar roti supplied at the most affordable rate to common man, the popularity was reflected when he contested Lok Sabha seat in 2004.

He defeated Bhuma Sobha Nagi Reddy (TDP) by a margin of over 1.11 lakh votes and there were no surprises going by the track record of both the families. 

This time Sobha’s husband Bhuma Nagi Reddy is in the fray but on a PRP ticket. The couple was among the early birds to join PRP and surprisingly still remained with the Chiranjeevi party which has seen the flock flying helter-skelter.

Political compulsions can be attributed to the couple sticking to the film company party. Initially the road shows were organized with great pomp and expectations too were high. As reality dawned in the couple stayed put as they have no other place to go.

But the main rival would be not from the Bhuma family but old hat and former deputy speaker, Nasyam Mohamed Farooq who is contesting on TDP ticket. The survey of the constituency has revealed that the constituency has a big chunk of minority votes.

The industrial and philanthropical  background of SPY Reddy could be of no match to his opponents. The most interesting fact is Sobha’s brother is contesting from Pathikonda segment, represented by SV Subba Reddy, on a Congress ticket. While Sobha takes on arch rival Gangula Prathap Reddy (Cong) in the Allagadda assembly segment.

The notoriety of the Bhuma couple during TDP days has earned the wrath of many voters. Druing the prohibition times it was more pronounced. NBWs could not be served on Nagi Reddy as he had the blessings of Sate Government as he was still with TDP.

Allagadda hogged the national headlines when an independent candidate died of bomb blast in his house. Bhuma then in TDP used to pose before cameras with a hoard of independents, each of them provided with four gunmen.

The campaign trail with independents along with gunmen was a scene indeed and this was what the Bhuma family wanted. Man going with lots of gunmen is the most powerful one.

Allagadda would not have become so popular had it not been an assembly segment of Nandyal and had PV Narasimha Rao not been the candidate. He won hands down with a record majority, after Gangula Prathap Reddy vacated the seat for Rao.

Though TDP did not field a canidatate against PV Narasimha Rao, Bhuma did not hide his intentions and was openly opposing Rao’s candidature in Allagadda.

It is the same Nandyal and a native with a good track record contesting against TDP nominee Farooq and Bhuma Nagi Reddy(PRP). TDP has slight advantage with Dhone, being included in the Lok Sabha and the nominee being from minorities but in other segments the Congress has a clear edge to sweep the district.