KAKINADA: All eyes are on Rajamahendravaram Rural Constituency, where a keen contest would unfold for the 2024 assembly polls.
The constituency is represented by senior Telugu Desam leader Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary. He is confident of getting the TD ticket again even amid rumours that the constituency might be given to the Jana Sena under a TD-JS alliance deal.
A rumour is that the JS high command has given the green signal to the party’s erstwhile East Godavari president Kandula Durgesh to enter the fray. Durgesh held the MLC post during the Congress rule and was a strong follower of the late Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy. He is a good orator. He contested from Rajamahendravaram Rural constituency on JS ticket but was defeated by TD candidate Gorantla Buchaiah Chowdary in the last polls.
However, Durgesh continues to pay attention to the constituency and is maintaining good relations with the cadres. The TD’s backing to the JS could be his additional strength this time.
Telugu Desam candidates are winning from Rajamahendravaram Rural constituency, which was formed before the 2009 elections. TD candidate Chandana Ramesh won in elections there. Buchiah Chowdary grabbed it in the 2014 and 2019 elections.
Buchaiah Chowdary won the assembly elections three times from Rajamahendravaram Urban since 1983. In the 2014 elections, the TD high command changed his seat to the Rural segment. He recently told the media he is confident of getting the TD ticket this time again. However he has kept an eye on Rajamahendravaram Urban constituency too.
But, it is noted that MLA Adireddy Bhavani’s family members, including former MLC Adireddy Appa Rao and his son Adireddy Srinivas have become very close to Chandrababu Naidu and his son Nara Lokesh.
According to TD sources, if Rajamahendravaram Rural is given to the Jana Sena, Buchaiah Chowdary may be given the ticket to contest the Rajamahendravaram Lok Sabha seat.
In YSRC, wholesale fruit trader Akula Veerraju was defeated by the Telugu Desam candidates in 2009 and 2014. At present, cloth and jewelry merchant Chandana Nageswar is acting as the party’s constituency in-charge. He is a strong aspirant for the segment.
Surprisingly, chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has selected BC welfare minister Srinivasa Venu Gopalakrishna for the Rajamahendravaram Rural from the Ramachandrapuram assembly segment. He has begun contacting the party cadres. He also garnered support from Rajanagaram MLA Jakkampudi Raja Indravandit and his family members. He was a strong follower of former minister, the late Jakkampudi Ramamohan Rao.
