50:50 mandate for YSRC, Telugu Desam in Andhra polls

Guntur:  There is no clearly discernible wave in favour of either the Telugu Desam or the YSR Congress, the two main contestants in Guntur district party.

The YSRC seems to be strong in six Assembly segments and the TD in four. It is in the remaining seven seats that the fight will really get tough for both parties, though the YSRC may have an edge.

The YSRC candidates for the Guntur, Narasaraopet and Bapatla Lok Sabha constituencies are doing better than their rivals and are also better placed than their own Assembly candidates.

Promises of farm loan waiver, large number of Kamma voters and non-consolidation of Muslim votes for rival parties are the factors that are helping the TD.

The consolidation in their favour of other castes, except Kapus, the high regard that voters from the weaker sections have for former chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, and extensive campaigning by his son Jagan Mohan Reddy,  daughter Sharmila and wife Vijayalakshmi have  given the YSRC a strong foothold. Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy’s corruption cases are not an issue with the voters.

The YSRC is sure of winning Mangalagiri, Macherla, Bapatla, Guntur East, Prattipadu and Narasaraopet. The TD has good chances of bagging Vinukonda, Vemuru, Tadikonda and Gurazala. The parties are neck-to-neck in Chilakaluripet, Guntur West, Sattenapalli, Pedakurpadu, Repalle, Tenali and Ponnuru.

Billa Nani, an engineering student and resident of Rentapalle in Sattenapalli mandal, says, “We are with YSRC as I am studying because of YSRC’s fee reimbursement scheme.” A similar undercurrent in favour of the YSRC exists in several segments.

A certain section of farmers has shifted loyalty to the TD in the hope that their loans will be written off. Hanumantha Rao, a farmer from Yerrabalem in Krosur mandal, says, “I have around Rs 56,000 in crop loans. Naidu promised that he will waive it.”

Not all farmers believe that Mr Naidu will be able to keep his promise. Says Ms B. Sitamma of Kolluru, “If farmers’ loans are waived, it is only a few farmers who would benefit. Jagan Mohan Reddy has promised waiver of Dwcra loans, that is given to self help groups.”

The YSRC’s parliamentary candidate from Guntur, V. Balashowry says, “No one believes Naidu’s promises. The amount that will have to be waived is more than Rs 1.25 lakh crore.”

Film star Pawan Kalyan’s support to the Telugu Desam has had no drastic effect on voters apart from Kapu youths like K. Venkateswarlu, a management graduate, who says, “I am a Pawan fan. I will vote for TD as he endorsed the party.”

YSRC spokesperson Ambati Rambabu doesn’t think this will amount to much. “Jagan has been working hard for the past few years. The effect of Pawan is very negligible,”he says.

In the urban segments, the Muslim  vote has consolidated for  YSRC, but it is divided in the rural segments. Shaik Shakeer from Gurzala says, “We don’t know about Modi or TD-BJP tie-up.  We are going to vote TD for our local leader.”

Galla assured of Brahmin votes

State Brahmmana Sangam president V.Anand Surya on Sunday extended his  co-operation and support to the Telugu Desam. Addressing a press meet held in TD party office, he urged the Brahmins to vote  in favour of TD candidates in the coming elections  because  TD  
president   N.Chandrababu Naidu had assured to implement welfare schemes to the Brahmins and solve their problems. He had also promised Rs 1000 pension to the archakas after 60-years apart from house sites and several welfare schemes including construction of pucca houses.

He urged the Brahmins to vote in favour of Galla Jayadev in the Guntur  Lok Sabha constituency and other TD candidates for Assembly.
Welcoming the decision of the Brahmmana Sangam, Mr. Jayadev said that he would try to solve the problems of the Brahmins and would implement welfare schemes meant for Brahmins.