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Big trio set to clash in Godavari districts
The teacher MLC elections of Godavari districts turned out to be a prestigious one, with the main contest being among two chairpersons of reputed engineering colleges and a retired college teacher though there are as many as 15 contestants. According to sources, the electorate from the SC social sections estimated around 5,000 out of 21,551 total electorate likely to play crucial role in the poll result.
Caste factor to play crucial role in determining the victor
Kakinada: The teacher MLC elections of Godavari districts turned out to be a prestigious one, with the main contest being among two chairpersons of reputed engineering colleges and a retired college teacher though there are as many as 15 contestants. According to sources, the electorate from the SC social sections estimated around 5,000 out of 21,551 total electorate likely to play crucial role in the poll result.
Of the three, K V V Satyanarayana Raju aka Chaitanya Raju (a Kshatriya) is seeking reelection with the support of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the polls to be conducted on non-party basis. According to TDP sources, the party has shown inclination towards Chaitanya Raju as he was instrumental in turning sitting MLCs B Indira, Rudraraju Padma Raju and Angara Lakshmi Siva Kumari towards the party and in securing majority in AP Legislative Council.
Besides the TDP, he enjoys the support of CPI, teachers unions PRTU, STU, Pandita Parishat and other organisations. He was also credited with solving issues like release of pending wages for contract college lecturers. The election is said to have turned out as litmus test for him. As far as Paruchuri Krishna Rao aka Pragati Krishna Rao is concerned, (Kamma), he is new entrant to electoral fray though has been a member of TDP for more than two decades.
Apart from the support of the rich and powerful Kamma caste, which runs the chain of educational Institutions in AP and other States, he enjoys the support of those who want new candidate to be elected in the aftermath of State bifurcation to represent their voice. It is also said that the TDP leadership is soft towards him though the local leaders time and again deny his affiliation to the party.
The third candidate Ramu Surya Rao aka RSR Master, a retired principal of C R Reddy College of Eluru enjoys the support of UTF, a teachers union, Retired Principals’ Association and others. His service to education, especially to poor students in pursuing of higher education by extending financial support after disposing his personal properties, is said to be his plus point. His supporters quote this as a sample of his service to society.
When contacted over the issue of SC teachers support being crucial in the poll outcome, the UTF East Godavari unit general secretary, K Satti Raju observed that as the teaches of this particular social section, though more in number, had been affiliated to different teachers’ unions. Hence there might not be any special impact on the election result, he observed.
