In the fervour leading up to the upcoming elections, the present Chairperson of Krishna Zilla Parishad, Uppala Harika, along with former chairpersons Nallagatla Sudha Rani and Gadde Anuradha, have been actively engaged in campaign activities to support their husbands’ bids for electoral success. These prominent women leaders are lending their support to their spouses, who are contesting for MLA positions across various constituencies within the combined Krishna district. Notably, two candidates are running under the banner of the ruling party YSRCP, while the third is contesting under the TDP symbol. Remarkably, all three contenders are vying for positions within the Krishna district.
Presently, ZP Chairperson Uppala Harika’s husband, Uppala Ramesh, widely known as Ramu, is contesting from the Pedana Assembly constituency as a YSRCP nominee. Similarly, former ZP chairperson Gadde Anuradha’s husband, Gadde Rama Mohana Rao, the incumbent MLA from Vijayawada-East, is seeking re-election from the same constituency under the TDP ticket. Former ZP chairperson Nallagatla Sudharani’s husband, Nallagatla Swamydas, a former MLA representing the Tiruvuru segment, is also in contention for the same constituency under the YSRCP banner.
Interestingly, Nallagatla Sudharani, a former ZP Chairperson, began her political journey as a TDP ZPTC member from Nandigama Mandal during the 2001 elections. She later ascended to the position of ZP Chairperson, serving for a tenure of five years. Similarly, Gadde Anuradha, who served as a TDP ZPTC member from Ungutur Mandal in 2014, was unanimously elected as ZP Chairperson. On the other hand, the current Chairperson, Uppala Harika, commenced her political career as a YSRCP ZPTC member from Gudlavalleru and has been diligently serving as the ZP Chairperson for the past three years.
In recent times, significant political shifts have occurred. Former MLA and senior leader Nallagatla Swamy Das defected from the TDP to join the YSRCP, a move echoed by Vijayawada’s incumbent MP Kesineni Srinivas, also known as Nani. Srinivas secured the YSRCP’s ticket for the Tiruvuru assembly segment. Consequently, Sudharani, his wife and former ZP chairperson, has been tirelessly campaigning for his success, canvassing door-to-door and rallying support across villages in the Tiruvuru constituency.
Meanwhile, former ZP Chairperson Gadde Anuradha, alongside her husband, the sitting MLA Gadde Rama Mohana Rao of Vijayawada East, remains firmly entrenched within their party. Rao, contesting for the fourth consecutive time from Vijayawada East, aims to set a record by clinching victory once more. His wife, Gadde Anuradha, along with their family members, is deeply involved in the electoral campaign.
Additionally, Uppala Ramu ventures into his maiden political contest as an MLA candidate from the Pedana constituency, representing the YSRCP. With his wife currently serving as the ZP Chairperson, both leaders are actively engaged in the electoral battle. Notably, compared to Swamy Das and Gadde Rama Mohan, Uppala Ramu is stepping into the electoral arena for the first time. Swamy Das has previously served as an MLA from Tiruvuru twice, while Gadde Rama Mohan Rao has represented Vijayawada as an MP and held MLA positions in Gannavaram and Vijayawada East segments.
As the election fervour intensifies, discussions surrounding the three candidates and their spouses campaigning for victory dominate district discourse. Political analysts, alongside major party leaders, are closely monitoring developments within the Tiruvuru, Pedana, and Vijayawada East segments. Analysts speculate that the outcome of these elections may significantly hinge on the concerted efforts of the candidates’ spouses.