TDP to face tough fight against YSRCP in Pathikonda

Kurnool: Pathikonda, has become a prestigious constituency to the two main rival parties. The constituency had been formed in 1955 and since then it is notorious for faction politics. Kangati Sridevi is in the fray from YSRCP while KE Shyam Babu is contesting from TDP. Both the candidates are contesting for the first time, but hail from families with strong political background.

The families of Kangati Sridevi and KE Shyam Babu have bitter rivalry for decades. Pathikonda Assembly constituency has a total of 1,89,409 voters. Of this, 95,751 are males, 93,640 are female and 18 are others. It has 254 polling stations.

KE Shyam Babu an MBA graduate has joined the TDP in 2002 and was given the post of Telugu Youth State leader. Since then has been working for the party. This time he is contesting to the Assembly constituency. He has the support of his father, Deputy Chief Minister KE Krishnamurthy and uncle MLC KE Prabhakar. In 2009, KE Prabhakar was MLA and KE Krishnamurthy won the MLA seat in 2014.

On the other hand, Kangati Sridevi, wife of slain Cherukulapadu Narayana Reddy, made her firstPathikonda Assembly constituency entry into politics. Earlier she had served as Chairman to Kurnool District Central Co-operative Bank (KDCC) during Congress rule. She served in the post for only 20 days and later she had to quit it.

Her husband Cherukulapadu Narayana Reddy, who was a close associate of Kotla Jaya Surya Prakash Reddy, had contested for Pathikonda seat from Congress ticket in 2014 elections.

He was defeated in the hands of KE Krishnamurthy with a difference of 38,925 votes. Kotla Hari Chakrapani Reddy who had contested from YSRCP was the runner up in that election. After the defeat Narayana Reddy defected to YSRCP and was made as constituency in-charge. While in YSRCP, he was murdered on 23rd May, 2017.

After the demise of Narayana Reddy, his wife Kangati Sridevi was given her husband's post. Since then she was striving for the party taking the activities into the people. According to political analysts, Sridevi is having better chances as she may have the support of SV Mohan Reddy who recently joined YSRCP again.