Vijayawada: The Tadikonda (SC) Assembly seat, under which the new capital Amaravati falls, is now one of the most coveted segments in the state, with all the major parties trying to win it.
Kamma, Mala, Madiga and Muslim voters hold the key in this constituency, and all parties are trying to woo them.
The ruling TD, with the help of Kammas successfully pooled 33,000 acres of land for the new capital Amaravati and is banking on this fact to retain the seat.
However, the sitting MLA T. Sravan Kumar faces rebellion. While TD seniors are trying to soothe frayed tempers within the party, the YSR Congress is making moves to take advantage and win the seat.
YSRC has fielded U. Sridevi, a doctor, with the hope that she will be acceptable to all section of voters. The BSP fielded Neelam Ravi Kiran as part of its alliance with the Jana Sena while the Congress has opted for Chilaka Vijaya Kumar.
Initially, the TD leadership refused to re-nominate Mr Sravan Kumar and announced Bapatla MP Sriram Malyadri as its candidate for Tadikonda. However, after protests, the party gave in and named Mr Sravan Kumar as its candidate.
Soon enough, protests against the MLA erupted, but the party remained firm this time.
While Mr Sravan Kumar said that Tadikonda had rapidly developed under TD rule, YSRC leaders allege that the land pooling scheme for Amaravati is a bigger scam than the Rafale deal.
In contrast to Mr Sravan Kumar’s claims that the people will vote for the TD as they thrived due to LPS, the YSRC says that the scheme benefitted only the TD and forced the locals people to migrate to other places to find employment.
The YSRC leaders also alleged that Jana Sena did not field a candidate only to help the TD as part of its hidden pact with the ruling party.
Dr Sridevi said that people are up in arms against the TD and they are seeking a change of government.
