The die is caste in Vijayawada East

Vijayawada: Kamma and Kapu social groups will decide the fate of the candidates in the Vijayawada East Assembly constituency where Telugu Desam, YSR Congress and Jana Sena are locked in a triangular contest.

The TD has opted for sitting MLA Gadde Rammohan, a Kamma and he was the first to start campaigning. The YSRC has given the ticket to Boppana Bhav Kumar, also a Kamma while the JS fielded Battina Ramu, a Kapu.

The constituency has 2,38,500 voters, with Kamma voters numbering about 42,000, and 35,000 Kapus. All three candidates have adopted a two-pronged approach — promise the voters that they will develop the constituency while trying to woo the leaders of various social groups to back them.

The constituency has about 30,000 SC and ST voters and 25,000 BCs, while there are about 15,000 Muslim voters and 12,000 Vysya.

Former legislator Vangaveeti Radhakrishna, a Kapu, contested for the seat last time, but his rival Gadde Rammohan, a Kamma, won the support from all quarters, including Kapus.

The constituency comprises areas like Gunadala, Macharvaram, Patamata, Moghalrajpuram, Autonagar, Krishnalanka, Ragnigarithota, Ramalingeswaranagar and part of Bandar Road.

Locals said that among their main priorities is the ever- increasing traffic problems due to the passing of two highways of Chennai-Kolkatta and Hyderabad-Machilipatnam through the constituency. Promises to ease the traffic flow by construction of a flyover remain unfulfilled.

Autonagar, the biggest industrial area in the state still waits for basic amenities. The widening of the Bandar Road from Benz Circle to Check Post Centre has been pending for the past five years. Construction of a retaining wall for the safety of nearly 70,000 people living on the Krishna river bund is going on at snail’s pace and regularisation of house lands also remain unresolved.

Mr Rammohan told this correspondent that the flyover work is nearing completion and first phase of the retaining wall work is under progress.

Mr Bhav Kumar alleged total neglect of the constituency. He expressing confidence of his victory and promised that the YSRC will develop the city.

Mr Ramu said that the public wants an end to corrupt politics and would back the JS.