TDP-YSRCP fiery fight on the cards

Srikakulam: A tough fight is expected between the ruling TDP and YSRCP parties for Srikakulam Lok Sabha constituency this time.Sitting MP K Rammohan Naidu is the TDP candidate for the constituency while D Srinivas is representing the YSRCP. P Samba Murthy from the BJP and M Rama Rao (Jana Sena) are also in the fray.

The Lok Sabha constituency has total seven Assembly segments. They are: Itchapuram, Palasa, Tekkali, Narasannapeta, Srikakulam, Amudalavalasa and Pathapatnam. Total voters in the Lok Sabha constituency are 15,40,170 of them 7,68,701 are men voters, 7,71,260 are women voters and transgenders are 209.

In this constituency, women voters outnumber men voters. There are 2,559 more voters among women when compared to men. Except TDP candidate Rammohan Naidu, candidates of remaining parties are new to the Srikakulam Parliamentary constituency.

YSRCP candidate D Srinivas contested from Tekkali Assembly segment three times representing the Congress and YSRCP and was defeated on all occasions. This time he was given ticket for the Lok Sabha constituency. Congress candidate D Jaganmohan Rao is also new for the Parliamentary constituency.

He had earlier contested for Narasannapeta Assembly constituency on PRP and Congress tickets and was defeated on both the occasions. Jana Sena candidate M Rama Rao is new to politics and he had served as Central government officer and resigned from the service to join in politics. BJP candidate P Samba Murthy is also new to the constitutency, he is a gold merchant and contesting for Lok Sabha seat for the first time.

In this Lok Sabha constituency, Kalinga caste voters are high in number followed by Turpukapu caste voters.While YSRCP candidate D Srinivas belongs to Kalinga caste, the Congress candidate represents Turpukapus. The YSRCP candidate feels that he would get full support from voters representing his community.

Sitting MP Rammohan Naidu is pinning hopes on the development activities executed in the constituency during the last five years. BJP candidate P Samba Murthy contends that development of the State is possible only through allotment of funds by BJP at the Centre.