Muddu’s image vs Roja’s charm

Roja, who is banking on the support of Christians, Muslims, SCs, is confident of winning the seat. She is sure of getting votes of Tamil-speaking Sengunda Mudaliars to which her spouse RK Selvamani belongs. She believes that many factors, including Y S Rajasekhara Reddy‘s charisma, Jagan’s popularity and women’s sympathy would firm up her winning chances.

The constituency has five mandals, including Nindra, Vijayapuram, Nagari, Puttur and Vadamalapeta. Its electorate is 1.85 lakh, including more than 4,000 women.

SC votes are more with about 34,000 followed by Sengunda Mudaliars 27,000, Reddys including Pallereddy 15,000 while the rest belong to various communities, including Kashtriyas, Kammas , Vysyas and OBCs.

Muddukrishnama Naidu has been leaving no stone unturned to retain the seat which he won with a narrow margin of about 1,000 votes in 2009. Naidu who won from here six times enjoys a good image as a non-controversial, approachable and service-minded legislator.

However, YSRCP has been bolstered with the recent joining of Nagari Municipal chairman KJ Kumar and former Puttur MPP DN Elumalai belonging to Sengunda Mudaliar community. They have boosted Roja’s electioneering.

While Congress candidate V Satya Swarupa Indira, daughter of octogenarian Congress leader and former minister R Chenga Reddy is in the fray, the fight is mainly between Roja and Muddukrishnama.

However, there is a likelihood of Indira splitting votes mostly of YSRCP which will be a blessing in disguise to Naidu.

Chenga Reddy, a senior Congress leader, who worked as minister several times, having a good following among the scheduled castes and other sections all over the constituency.