Avanigadda to witness triangular contest

Vijayawada: Avanigadda Assembly constituency, one of the biggest constituencies in the district with five mandals under its jurisdiction with strong Kapu belt area, is heading for a triangular contest in 2019 Assembly elections on April 11.

The main contest is likely between the TDP, YSRCP and Jana Sena candidates. Avanigadda perhaps is the only constituency in the district where triangular fight is expected in 2019 elections in Krishna district.

In other constituencies, the main fight is between the TDP and YSRCP. Assembly Deputy Speaker and senior politician Mandali Buddha Prasad is contesting from the TDP, Simhadri Ramesh from the YSRCP and Muttamsetti Krishna Rao is in the fray from Jana Sena party. In 2014 Assembly elections, Mandali Buddha Prasad defeated Simhadri Ramesh by a margin of 5,958 votes. Buddha Prasad got 80,995 votes and Simhadri Ramesh polled 75,037 votes in the direct fight between the two parties. Jana Sena has fielded Muthamsetty Krishna Rao, a businessman from the constituency.

Simhadri Ramesh is well known among farm leaders and has good relations with a large number of farmers in Diviseema region. Mandali is very senior politician from Diviseema region. Avanigaddi Assembly constituency spreads over six mandals Avanigadda, Challapalli, Ghantasala, Koduru, Mopidevi and Nagayalanka under its jurisdiction.

The constituency is famous for picturesque beauty along the Krishna river. But, it lacks irrigation water facility as it located in the tail-end area of Krishna river. The constituency has large number of Kapus and they play vital role in the elections. Main stream political parties chose Kapu candidates in the segment due to the sizeable number of voters.

Mandali Buddha Prasad was elected to the Assembly from the segment in 1999 and 2004 as a Congress candidate. He was again elected to Assembly in 2014 as TDP candidate. After bifurcation of the State, the Congress lost its significance in the State and most leaders joined other parties mostly the TDP and YSRCP. Election campaign is yet to pick up in the constituency. It is expected the campaign will get momentum after filing of nominations.