TDP likely to get more seats in Anantapur

- The ruling party is second in Anantapur district in the state after West Godavari to win the highest number of seats in 2014 elections
- The Opposition YSRCP wins only in Uravakonda and Kadiri Assembly segments in 2014 polls

Anantapur: Political temperature is heating up in the district with the talk of early polls for Assembly and Lok Sabha. Political observers say that the polls might be advanced by six months. The TDP in the district has the dubious distinction of winning 12 of 14 Assembly segments in the district. It is second district in the state after West Godavari to win the highest number of seats for ruling TDP in 2014 elections.

In 2014 elections, the TDP had won Anantapur Urban, Guntakal, Raptadu, Kalyandurg, Rayadurg, Madakasira, Dharmavaram, Hindupur, Penukonda, Puttaparthy, Singanamala and Tadipatri. The YSRCP had won in Uravakonda and Kadiri Assembly segments. In the recent past Kadiri MLA Chand Basha defected to TDP.

Although, the TDP is in advantageous position in the district when compared to YSRCP, it is in a bad shape due to internal bickerings and power struggle within the party.

Anantapur constituency is in the eye of storm due to rivalry between local MLA Prabhakar Choudhury and MP J C Diwakar Reddy. The party is also weak in Kalyandurg, Rayadurg and Dharmavaram. Hindupur MLA N Balakrishna is likely to be replaced by Nara Lokesh as the talk goes on. Anantapur, Rayadurg and Kalyandurg is also likely to witness a change due to feedback the party high command received from different sources.

MP J C Diwakar Reddy is emerging stronger and he is expected to have a say in the selection of candidates in seven assembly segments which fall under the MP constituency. If Prabhakar Choudhury is not renominated, the constituency may witness rebel activity. Things will be different if Pawan Kalyan decides to contest from Anantapur. There is widespread talk of Jana Sena aligning with TDP once again, although it is kept as a secret by both the party presidents. The ex-MLA of Anantapur Gurunath Reddy may be nominated from Rayadurg, his native place, as there might be hitches for his nomination from Anantapur due to Pawan Kalyan factor.

MP Diwakar Reddy, MLA Prabhakar Reddy, MP Nimmala Kistappa and even Paritala Sunitha are planning to field their sons in their place. Sunitha is trying for renomination of her son Paritala Sriramulu. She might even agree for her replacement with her son in Raptadu constituency. Many educated youth, the sons of bigwigs are likely to be in the electoral fray giving the elections a youth flavour.

Although there are internal bickerings within the party, political observers are confident that the performance of the TDP government including the supply of Handri Neeva water would see the party through.

Due to anti-incumbency factor, fight will be tough for TDP and the final impact of pada yatra by YSRCP president Jaganmohan Reddy. The YSRCP hopes that the 2019 election results would be on the lines of Trump-Clinton election of USA and that the unexpected would happen like Jagan coming out in flying colours in the next Assembly elections.

Y S Jaganmohan Reddy is entering the district on Monday from Kurnool. It all depends on the kind of impact he will make during his pada yatra in the district. Jagan, some believe is not a spent force and cannot be written off as any other leader. As of now the situation is still fluid and as the count down for the Assembly elections start, political
equations would change.

Ravi P Benjamin