TDP has edge over YSRCP in Hindupur Assembly fight

Hindupur (Anantapur): The total population of Hindupur Assembly constituency is 20,22,685, out of whom 70.76 per cent hail from rural areas and 22.28 per cent hail from urban areas. Out of the said population, the SC and ST population is 13.6 and 4.57 per cent respectively. As per the voter list of 2018, the total number of polling stations are 1,776 and the voter turnout in 2014 Assembly election was 81.53 per cent and in the 2009, the voter turnout was 74.51 per cent.

The BJP, Congress, YSRCP and TDP polled 0 percent, 3.1 and 51.33, and 43.06 per cent in that order in 2014 parliamentary elections. In the present polls, Hindupur sitting MLA N Balakrishna stepped up his campaigning visiting villages in his constituency and claiming that the State government has done a lot to the people and that was why the people should vote to TDP.

The MLA, though not being well connected to the constituency, has claimed that the TDP government deserved their support as the government showered welfare bonanza to the poorer sections. Balaiah received a warm welcome in several villages in rural areas Hindupur which include Cherlopalle, Balampalle, Berepalle, Peddagudem, Chinnaguddempalle, Rachapalle, Jangalapalle and Meenakuntapalle villages on Wednesday and Thursday.

Hindupuram Assembly constituency, which elected the legendary actor turned politician and former chief minister Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao more than 3 decades ago, had stood loyal to TDP and N T Rama Rao's family from 1985 to 2014.

Hindupur elected TDP founder Rama Rao as its MLA in 1985, 1989 and 1994. In 1996 Nandamuri Hari Krishna was elected as MLA . In 2004 Pamisetty Ranganayakulu of TDP was elected as MLA and in 2009 Abdul Ghani of TDP was elected MLA .In 2014 Nandamuri Balakrishna was elected MLA. In 1983, P.Ranganayakulu contested as an independent in Hindupur and won. In 2004 the same Ranganayakulu contested on behalf of TDP and won.

There was discontentment against MLA Balakrishna for not visiting the constituency regularly and for being indifferent towards local problems. But, in recent times, Balakrishna has been attending to local problems and bringing funds for the crucial water scheme to quench the thirst of local people. Former TDP MLA Abdul Ghani who joined the YSRCP is fighting against Balakrishna. Even in 2004 when Congress popularity was at its peak under the leadership of Dr.Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, the Hindupur voters elected TDP candidate.