TD sniffs opportunity to split Pulivendula, weaken Jagan Mohan Reddy

Anantapur: With the Centre being positive towards increasing the number of Assembly constituencies in the state, speculation is rife over targeting sensitive constituencies like Pulivendula, home turf of YSR Congress president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy in Kadapa district. Pulivendula may get split into two in the reorganisation process for the upcoming polls in 2019. This would mean the Leader of the Opposition YS Jagan Mohan Reddy would face an embarrassing situation as he is being targeted by the ruling Telugu Desam.

After the state division, AP has 175 Assembly constituencies while Telangana has 119. According to the state Bifurcation Act, there is a possibility of increasing the segments to 225 in AP and 153 in Telangana. Sources revealed that the Centre had sent clear indications that an increase in the number of Assembly constituencies could be done before the upcoming general polls.
In Kadapa district, there are 10 Assembly segments.

At least three new segments are possible. The ruling party wants to use this opportunity to strike at the YSRC in all the segments where it has a strong base. Two mandals from Pulivendula and two more mandals from Jammalamadugu Assembly segments could be redrawn and realigned to make a new constituency. A senior leader from YSRC in Kadapa district felt the government was likely to misuse the powers by exerting pressure on the officials to split the constituencies in ways that it benefited TD. “During the process of creating three more segments for Kadapa, enormous changes will be seen in Kadapa district", sources said. The Telugu Desam reportedly encouraged defections from YSRC from Kurnool and Kadapa, and is planning to accommodate the leaders either as sitting MLAs or as senior TD leaders.