It’s Uma Vs Vasantha Krishna Prasad

Vijayawada: Former Home Minister Vasanta Nageshwara Rao's son Vasanta Krishna Prasad joining YSR Congress poses a challenge to Minister for Water Resources Devineni Umamaheshwara Rao. Vasanta Krishna Prasad received assurance from YSR Congress Party to get ticket to contest from Mylavaram Assembly segment in the forthcoming Assembly elections.

Presently, Minister Devineni Umamaheshwara Rao was representing the Mylavaram constituency for Telugu Desam. Now, he should face Krishna Prasad, an opponent with sound financial background. If Minister Devineni wins the election, he would create a new record in Krishna district politics as the winner of five consecutive elections.  

Indeed, Devineni Umamaheswara Rao entered the politics after his brother Devineni Venkata Ramana’s sudden demise. Devineni Venkata Ramana was elected from Nandigama constituency in 1994 later he died in a train accident. After his demise, Devineni Umamaheswara Rao entered the politics in 1999 elections. He was elected twice from Nandigama constituency in 1999 and 2004 elections.

He won the two elections against his rivals Vasanta Krishna Prasad and his father Vasantha Nageswara Rao. Later, the constituency was reserved for the Scheduled Castes. Actually, both Devineni Venkataramana and Devineni Umamaheswara Rao started their political career with the support of their cousin the late Devineni Rajasekhar (Nehru).

However, Devineni Umamaheswara Rao was shifted to Mylavaram constituency in 2004 elections. He registered victory in the two consecutive elections in 2009 and 2014. So far, Devineni Umamaheswara Rao was elected as an MLA for four times consecutively from two constituencies. 

Former ministers the late Devineni Rajasekhar (Nehru) and the late Chanumolu Venkata Rao, were the leaders who were elected five times which was the highest in Krishna district. But they also could not register consecutive victories. If Devineni Umamaheswara Rao wins the election in 2019, he would create a new history.

But the situation appears to be difficult for Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao in the forthcoming elections. Vasantha family has strong desire to take revenge in the elections against Devineni Umamaheswara Rao. Actually, both the leaders are outsiders to the constituency.

Devineni Umamaheswara Rao’s family is native of Kanchikachera and Vasantha Krishna Prasad is a native of Ithavaram village in Nandigama constituency. 

Former MLA Jogi Ramesh candidature was considered for Mylavaram constituency but now the party leadership selected Krishna Prasad assuming him as a stronger contender. 

The political atmosphere in the constituency is not favourable to Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao. The entry of Vasantha Krishna Prasad with strong financial background raises the political heat not only in Mylavaram constituency but also in Krishna district politics.