Lokesh out to silence detractors with a gamble

Vijayawada: The election in the Mangalagiri constituency is drawing the attention of political circles throughout the state. As Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's son Lokesh entered the fray for the first time in his political career, YSRCP is making all efforts to retain the sitting seat by defeating him. The TDP leadership is confident of Lokesh's victory.

Lokesh is trying to silence his rivals to question his leadership qualities by winning in the seat which was in TDP kitty only for two times so far. In any aspect, the it is a big gamble for the political scion of the TDP since most of voters in the constituency belong to Backward Classes and Scheduled Castes with Kammas, the community of TDP chief, constituting a miniscule percentage in the constituency.

Moreover, Mangalagiri is the sitting seat of the YSR Congress. However, it may be noted here that Alla Ramakrishna Reddy of YSRCP won the seats with a razor-edge majority of 12 votes in 2014. Lokesh visited almost all the 42 villages and two municipalities in the constituency limits as part of his campaign.

Sources say he got some edge in Mangalagiri town where nearly 40,000 weavers are living. Several leaders of various parties joined the TDP in Mangalagiri town and neighbouring villages during the last 15 days. Moreover, he made elaborate plans to reduce the majority enjoyed by the YSR Congress candidate in Tadepalli mandal. YSRCP got nearly 7,500 majority in that particular mandal in the last election.

Now the situation seems that both the parties are likely to get equal number of votes or YSRCP may get slight majority in Tadepalli mandal. Besides, the TDP leadership is expecting a huge majority in Mangalagiri mandal. The party got majority there in the last election also. Now the TDP is hoping for around 10,000 majority in Mangalagiri town alone.

Apart from this, the TDP and the YSRCP got almost equal number of votes in Duggirala mandal in the last election. Now Lokesh and his team are expecting a good majority in this mandal too. The TDP is confident of support from BCs, Kapus, and Kammas along with Dwcra voters in all sections. On the other hand, the YSRCP is leaving no stone unturned to keep its traditional vote bank in the SCs, Muslims and other communities.

Recently, former MP Butta Renuka, who returned to YSRCP fold after denial of ticket in Kurnool, visited Mangalagiri town and met the voters of her own weavers community. She requested the voters to cast vote in favour of the YSRCP after explaining her experience in the TDP including rejection of party ticket to her.

Interestingly, YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Tuesday announced the minister post for Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, provided that his party is voted to power and the MLA seat is won by the party. He made this announcement to blunt the chances of TDP.