Vasireddy Ravichandra
The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has strategically unveiled its candidates for two Lok Sabha constituencies in the district, emphasising caste considerations. This move has compelled the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to align its candidate selection process along similar lines.
In the announcement, Anil Kumar Yadav, hailing from the backward Yadav community in Nellore district, was declared as the YSRCP candidate for the Narasaraopet Lok Sabha constituency.
The constituency comprises seven Assembly segments: Vinukonda, Macherla, Sattenapalli, Narasaraopet, Gurajala, Chilakaluripet, and Pedakurapadu. With over one lakh Yadav votes in the constituency, the YSRCP strategically anticipates support not only from the Yadav community but also from other backward caste (BC) voters, in addition to its traditional base among Dalits. The party envisions a smooth and confident victory for Anil Kumar Yadav in the upcoming elections, thereby intensifying political activities in the Narasaraopet constituency.
Simultaneously, the YSRCP’s decision to nominate Ummareddy Venkataramana, the son of senior party leader and Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Ummareddy Venkateswarlu, as its candidate for the Guntur Lok Sabha seat has caught many by surprise. This move has prompted the TDP to reconsider its candidate selection for the Guntur constituency, which includes a substantial number of Kapu voters. The TDP is exploring options within the Kamma community, considering the withdrawal of its sitting MP Galla Jayadev from politics.
The YSRCP’s caste-centric approach has left the TDP in a dilemma, particularly in the Narasaraopet constituency, where speculation is rife about the potential entry of Lavu Sri Krishnadevarayalu, the sitting YSRCP MP who declined to contest from Guntur. As the TDP contemplates its choices, the party is grappling with the challenge of identifying strong Kapu candidates for both the Narasaraopet and Guntur Lok Sabha constituencies. The YSRCP’s calculated selection strategy has placed the TDP in a quandary, compelling a reevaluation of its candidate choices for these crucial parliamentary seats.
