Elamanchili a TDP bastion

Visakhapatnam: Elamanchili, one of the strong bastions of Telugu Desam Party, has sizeable number of farmers, who will decide the fate of candidates here in the ensuing elections to be held on April 11.

Since the TDP inception, except on three occasions, the voters here gave a clear mandate to the TDP. The constituency covers Rambilli, Munagapaka, Atchutapuram mandals and Elamanchili municipality. Recently, the government set up Special Economic Zone with several industries. Brandix India Apparel City (BIAC), a unique and integrated apparel supply chain city is also located in the constituency.

During 1989, 1994 and 1999 elections, TDP senior leader Pappala Chalapati Rao won the elections. However, with the Congress Party's charisma in 2004 and 2009 elections, Uppalapati Venkata Ramana Murthy Raju (Kanna Babu) won the elections and during the 2014 elections, TDP candidate Panchakarla Ramesh Babu won the elections with a majority of 8,375 votes on YSR Congress Party candidate Pragada Nageswara Rao.

With the Atchutapuram Special Economic Zone and BIAC, the industrial zone is being developing. However, there is a strong allegation from the local youth that the companies are not giving priority to locals in employment opportunities. In all the elections, the party candidates are assuring the youth that they would make efforts to give priority to locals while recruiting the posts.

Farm community is the deciding factor in the segment. Agriculture and milk business are the key factors in the Rambilli, Munagapaka and Atchutapuram mandals. The Elamanchili municipality is now in the hands of TDP.

Visakha Dairy, one of the biggest dairies in the country is influencing the voters in the three mandals. The dairy which is being run by the Adari Tulasi Rao, one of the senior TDP leader, is looking after the welfare of milk producers. Tulasi Rao's son Adari Anand is now contesting from Anakapalle Lok Sabha constituency on TDP's ticket.

Meanwhile, YSRCP fielded Kanna Babu in the segment. Kanna Babu is also having strong hold in the segment. During his 10 years long stint as MLA, Kanna Babu developed his own cadre in the segment. In fact, Kanna Babu started his electioneering for the past one year in the segment.