Tough fight between TDP, YSRCP

Tirupati: All the 14 Assembly constituencies in Chittoor district are witnessing a tough fight between the two regional parties TDP and YSRCP, except in two places where the newly floated Jai Samaikyandhra Party (JSP) is also giving a good fight.

For the first time the Congress is in piteous condition in the sense that it is not at all counted in the election race anywhere in the 14 constituencies. The silver lining is that the party could get sincere and loyal activists to be fielded in many places including Chandragiri where DCC president is contesting, VSS Indira, daughter of former minister R Chenga Reddy in Nagari, Bathai Naidu in Srikalahasthi.

Satyavedu:

Here the fight is between TDP Talari Aditya and YSRCP Aadimoolam. The YSRCP started the campaign early, hoping to win the seat with YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s charisma coupled with Jaganmohan Reddy’s popularity more so among SCs and minorities. However, the TDP, which denied a ticket to sitting MLA Hemalatha for her poor performance, has replaced her with a new face Aditya, son of Manohar, former MP and MLA. The TDP is confident of retaining the seat with Manohar having good contacts and also the influence of S C V Naidu, who recently quit Congress to join TDP. His following in BN Kandriga and Varadiapalem mandals can working for TDP. Retired judge Doraswamy is also in the fray as JSP candidate.

Srikalahasthi:

A tough fight is going on between TDP Bojjala Gopalakrishna Reddy and YSRCP B Madhusudhana Reddy. TDP is banking on Bojjala, a non-controversial person, having good following and contacts to retain the seat while YSRCP doing its best to wrest the seat from TDP. JSP CR Rajan belonging to Vannikula Kshatriya community having 37,000 votes while Congress Bathai Naidu, a doctor with a very good image. Rajan’s presence to some extent affect TDP chances by splitting Vannikula Kshatriya votes, which normally goes to TDP. But the TDP, buoyed by former Congress SCV Naidu and former municipal chairman Shantaram J Pawar joining the party, hopes to overcome this loss. It has an edge.

Nagari:

YSRCP RK Roja seems to have an edge over TDP senior leader G Muddukrishnama Naidu with her aggressive campaign coupled with sympathy and support from women. Besides, she is expecting more votes from the predominant Sengunda Mudaliar community and minorities. But Naidu with his popularity as an amicable and a leader who is accessible is confident of retaining the seat. But the entry of VSS Indira, daughter of once Congress strongman and former minister R Chenga Reddy, bound to change the poll dynamics. She and her father are engaged in hectic electioneering and poll pundits opine that if Indira gets sizable votes it will upset Roja’s applecart.

Tirupati:

Though 29 candidates are in fray, the fight is essentially between YSRCP Bhumana Karunakar Reddy and TDP M Venkatramana. Bhumana, who has been in the limelight with his` ward bata’ right from day one of the election, is dominating the campaign and is hoping to repeat his 2012 by-election performance with Rajasekhara Reddy and Jagan’s popularity. But the Congress candidate Mabbu Deva Narayana Reddy and JSP P Naveen Kumar Reddy are both engaged in intense campaign. Since they belong to Reddy community they are expected to split the community votes of YSRCP. Independent nominee K Sankar Reddy, former municipal chairman, has some pockets of influence to cut into TDP votes. The TDP, in a calculated move, has fielded Venkatramana to get majority votes of Balijas, which is dominant in the town. Despite a slow start, Ramana picked up momentum and is giving a tough fight. If the caste polarisation turns effective, it will benefit the TDP.

Chandragiri:

TDP candidate Galla Arunakumari is leaving no stone unturned to overcome the formidable challenge from YSRCP Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy. The segment witnessed heated one-upmanship between the two parties adding to the election heat. Arunakumari is facing some hiccups with her followers, who are till now Congressmen, yet to come up with TDP cadres, who have all these years fought with them.

YSRCP in a determined bid to break Arunakumari’s hold on Chandragiri is focusing on Tirupati rural mandal, which has about one lakh votes and in a position to decide the outcome of the poll.

JSP Mamatha and DCC president Venugopal Reddy though having their pockets of influence are giving a nominal fight.

Puthalapattu:

In this reserved segment, TDP Lalitha Kumri is trying her best to win the seat in which she lost narrowly at the hands of Congress candidate Ravi in 2009. YSRCP fielded Dr Sunil who got unexpected support from former minister Patnam Subbaiah. The latter quit TDP after it refused ticket to him. But Congress candidate Ashok Raju, son of former MLA Munuswamy, is expected to split YSRCP votes. Lalitha Kumari is in a better position with sitting MLA Ravi, who defeated her in 2009, is supporting TDP.

GD Nellore:

The fight is tough with TDP G Kuthuhalamma and YSRCP Narayana Swamy, who is also party district convener, and is sparing no efforts to win. Kuthuhalmma with her long public life as ZP chairman and MLA and well known in the area, hopes her performance and TDP support will help her to retain the seat. But Narayana Swamy, who is a senior leader, is banking on his party’s vote bank, including the Reddys and SC votes.

No YSRCP star campaigner took up electioneering in the constituency while TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu addressed a meeting in Penumur on the last day of campaign that has boosted TDP and brightened Kuthuhalamma chances.

Piler:

It is the one of the constituency where the contest is triangular. JSP Kishore Kumar Reddy is banking on his brother and former chief minister N Kirankumar Reddy’s good work. He is giving a tough fight to TDP Iqbal Ahamad Khan and YSRCP Ramachandra Reddy. TDP fielded a member from the minority segment, a s Muslims are predominant in the constituency. This, in addition to traditional support base of BCs and Chandrababu image can come in handy for TDP.

YSRCP is relying on its leader P Ramachandra Reddy, who has a good following in some of the mandals in the constituency and also its support base, minorities and Reddys. The fight is keen and unpredictable.

Congress candidate Shawnavaz Ali Khan grandson of late Saifullabaig is also in the fray.

Madanapalli:

It is witnessing a multi-corner fight with YSRCP Thippa Reddy, BJP Challapapalli Narasimha Reddy, JSP Nareshkumr Reddyand Congress Shajahan Basha, sitting MLA in the fray. After Narendra Modi’s successful meet in which Chandrababu Naidu and Pavan Klayan also addressed, the TDP and BJP started working cohesively. YSRCP is banking heavily on minorities, Reddys and SCs votes but BJP is pinning all its hopes on the possible split in the 40,000 minorities in the constituency between YSRCP, JSP and also Congress candidate, a Muslim. MIM Mohammad Ali Khan is also in the fray.

Tamballapalli:

The main fight is between TDP G Sankar and YSRCP AV Praveenkumar Reddy, though Congress leader M N Chandrasekhar Reddy and JSP CP Subba Reddy are also in the fray. Praveenkumar’s chances have improved with a strongman Kalicherla Prabhakar Reddy supporting him.

Palamaner:

YSRCP Amarnatha Reddy is fighting hard to win again from here while TDP Subhash Chandra Bose is striving to win the seat back to TDP which has a good following in all mandals more so in V Kota. Though Amarnatha Reddy quit TDP to join YSRCP, most of the TDP cadre remained with the party. Subhash Chandra Bose has good contacts all over the constituency. But the Muslims, who are predominant, are in position to decide the fate of the contestants. YSRCP is hoping the total support of minorities and the TDP, by regaining the OBCs, is in neck-and-neck race.

Chittoor:

TDP DK Satyaprabha and YSRCP JMC Srinivasulu are the main contenders. Both the candidates belong to Balija community which is in a fix unable to decide on whom to choose from. YSRCP, which is making a concerted effort to win, got the support of CK Babu.

TDP candidate is relying on the party traditional supporters Kammas, Balijas and OBCs beside reputation of her late husband DK Audikesavulu, former MP and TTD chairman. The last minute campaign by Chandrababu Naidu boosted the morale of TDP cadre. The outcome is unpredictable with both the parties evenly poised.

In Kuppam Chandrababu Naidu’s win is certain but the only question is his victory margin. Same is the case with Punganur where YSRCP senior leader P Ramachandra Reddy remains near-invincible. But TDP Venkataramana Raju is giving him a spirited fight.