TDP's new entrant Anisha Reddy to face a big challenge in Punganur

Tirupati: Punganur Assembly constituency located in Chittoor district comes under the Rajampet Lok Sabha constituency. As per the estimates of 2011 census, out of total 2,93,170 population 81.33% is rural and 18.67% is urban population. As per the voter list of 2018, there are 2,08,289 electorates and 267 polling stations in this constituency.

Presently YSRCP state General Secretary and former Forest Minister Peddireddy Ramchandra Reddy is representing from Punganur Assembly constituency. In the last 2014 elections, he had defeated TDP candidate M Venkata Ramana Raju. Peddireddy had secured 1,04,587 votes and he got second highest majority after Chandrababu Naidu's majority in Kuppam.

Defeated candidate Venkataramana Raju got 72,856 votes. It may be noted that Punganur Assembly constituency was set up in 1955. This time TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu has changed his strategy in Punganur and nominated woman candidate to contest in ensuing assembly polls against YSRCP senior leader Peddireddy Ramchandra Reddy.

TDP nominee Anisha Reddy is the sister in law of present Minister for Industries N Amaranatha Reddy who is contesting as TDP MLA from Palamaneru. There are six mandals in Punganur constituency - Rompicharla, Sadumu, Somala, Punganur, Chowdepalli and Peddapanjani. MLA Peddyreddy Ramachandra Reddy has always been keeping in touch with the local people.

Meanwhile, TDP nominee Anisha Reddy has also wider network in all the mandals in the constituency. But she is contesting as an MLA for the first time. She is confident that the welfare schemes being implemented by ruling TDP and supply of the HNSS Krishna water to the constituency will help her to win the polls.