KAKINADA: Pithapuram constituency is known for its “sympathy” voting. Knowing this well, the constituency’s YSRC candidate Vanga Geetha, who is contesting against Jana Sena chief and film star Pawan Kalyan, used a sympathy card to impress voters in Pithapuram.
Geetha shed tears on the dais she shared with Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy at the Uppada Centre in Pithapuram constituency, urged voters to elect her.
Voters of Pithapuram have frequently given importance to sympathy while electing their representatives.
In 1999 elections, Pendem Dorababu, as a BJP candidate, had been a sure winner as the assembly elections progressed. Then, an independent candidate Sangisetty Venkatewara Rao, who got a “Bus’’ symbol, appealed to voters that he wanted to go to the assembly by bus. If the voters want to fulfil his desire, they should vote for bus symbol. He said, otherwise, they should take him to the burial ground in a bus.
Voters gave victory to Venkatewara Rao, defeating the BJP candidate Dorababu. However, in 2004 elections, voters gave victory to Dorababu from Pithapuram, while the congress swept the remaining constituencies in the district.
In 2014, the Telugu Desam denied ticket to S.V.S.N. Varma to contest from Pithapuram. Varma went to the people with tears and won with a huge majority.
Now, when Jana Sena’s Pawan Kalyan’s campaigned has reached the peak stage in Pithapuram, the YSRC candidate said in presence of the Chief Minister on Saturday evening that many are branding her as a “non-local,” though she had lived in Pithapuram for several years.
Taking affront to such campaigning, she said she would like to be reborn in Pithapuram. She requested voters of Pithapuram to send her to a burial ground with turmeric, Kumkum and bangles, treating her as a local woman.
With tears in her eyes, Vanga Geetha said she would like to reside in the hearts of Pithapuram people forever.
Voters will decide what would happen on May 13.
