Nagababu entry makes difference

Bhimavaram: Entry of K Nagababu, actor and elder brother of Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan, into Narsapuram parliamentary constituency has changed political equations. While Vetukuri Sivaramaraju (Siva) on TDP ticket and Kanumuri Ramakrishnamraju on behalf of YSRCP hail from same Kshatriya community, Nagababu is representing Kapu community.

Considered as citadel of Kshatriyas, the constituency is now represented by BJP MP Gokaraju Gangaraju. However, the BJP is nowhere in the reckoning after separation from TDP.Prior to the entry of Nagababu, the TDP has planned to field Kanumuri from the seat.

Following political developments, Kanumuri shifted loyalties to YSRCP and contesting on its behalf. To give him a tough fight, the TDP leadership chose Undi MLA Siva as he also belongs from the same community.

Kanumuri has good contacts in the constituency and enjoying support of leaders and activists from the community, apart from the possible wave for YSRCP. On the other hand, Siva is enjoying local support of TDP cadre and leaders besides welfare schemes of the party.

Political pundits predicted that either Kanumuri or Siva will emerge victorious. But, now the political equations changed as Nagababu is giving a tough fight to both his TDP and YSRCP rivals. Though he has minus point of being non-local, Nagababu is convincing the voters that he will settle down in the constituency and spend only six days in a month for shoot of popular TV show Jabardast.

Earlier, Kapu leaders Chegondi Harirama Jogaiah and Kothapalli Subbarayudu won from this seat. If Kapu votes divide among TDP and YSRCP candidates, Nagababu will face trouble. In seven assembly segments of Narsapuram constituency, the Kapu voters have the power to change the destiny of any candidate.

Earlier, Praja Rajyam founder and Pawan Kalyan's brother K Chiranjeevi was defeated from Palakole segment under the constituency because of his non-local status. Even though Pawan Kalyan is contesting from Bhimavaram segment, which also falls under purview of Narsapuram, it has to be seen how far the JSP founder succeeds in helping his elder brother win the election.