TDP fields its candidate in Nellore rural after 10 years

Nellore: Nellore rural is a newly formed constituency in 2009 as part of reorganisation and the ruling party has been losing the seat due to political tie-up. For the first time, party's candidate and former Minister Adala Prabhakar Reddy is contesting in the elections.

Nellore rural is part of the city and also rural areas where mixed voters will decide fate of the candidate. For the first time during 2009 polls, the TDP allowed candidate from CPM to contest, who got only third place. Congress candidate Anam Vivekananda Reddy won the seat. Further, in 2014 too, the ruling party failed to contest and allowed the combined candidate of TDP-BJP S Suresh Reddy to contest.

He too suffered defeat. The YSRCP candidate Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy won the seat. Though there was difference of votes was very minute in 2009 polls and the situation reversed in 2014 where opposition candidate achieved a majority of more than 25,000 votes in the polls. Voters also were in a notion that the TDP is neglecting the constituency by allowing other parties to field their candidates.

Now, Adala Prabhakar Reddy, who won from Sarvepalli constituency on the Congress ticket in the past, had failed to get ticket from TDP in 2004 and 2009 polls. He contested on TDP ticket for Nellore Lok Sabha seat in 2014 and lost with a margin of 6,000 votes. "There is a clear indication that the party is gradually vanishing from the minds of the people and now the TDP is planning to prove its existence.

Hence, it selected a strong candidate Prabhakar Reddy to give tough fight to the sitting YSRCP legislator Sridhar Reddy. Have to see how voters will respond this time," said a senior leader from the TDP. Adala Prabhakar was appointed as in-charge of the constituency and has been monitoring all activities besides coordinating other activities of the party at district-level. He played a crucial role in Atmakur constituency for bailing out from internal squabble and also managed the situation.

So, the TDP considered his strong presence in the constituency, he added. Improved public contacts, thorough understanding on local political scenario and direct presence of the party are plus points of the ruling party candidate.

Further, sitting MLA K Sridhar Reddy is from the opposition, who is getting ready for the second term polls. Wide contacts in rural masses, mingling nature with anybody irrespective of their cadre are his plus points. He had already started his campaign in the constituency long back.