The Hindu : Fishermen community headed for a split?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 19, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Fishermen community headed for a split?

By Our Correspondent

KAKINADA, JAN. 18. The fishermen community, which has considerable population in Kakinada, Sampara and Thallarevu Assembly constituencies, and has been playing a major role in deciding the outcome of the elections all these years, seems to be heading for a split this time.

Among the 16 fishermen castes and sub-castes, people belonging to Agnikulakshatriya were able to enjoy political power all these years, with the support of other sub-castes including Vadabalija, Suryavamsi and Pallekaru. Except Prof. B. Ramachandra Rao of Visakhapatnam district, no one from the Vadabalija sect has been able to come to positions of either MLA or MP.

Even in East Godavari district, the former MLA from Sampara constituency, T.S.L. Naicker, or Malladi Swamy, former Minister, who represented Kakinada Assembly constituency or Vanamadi Venkateswara Rao who was the Kakinada MLA till recently, all belong to Agnikulakshatriya sect. Vadabalijas, who constitute nearly 62% of the fishermen population, for the first time have realised the need for a fair deal to them in the election by way of allocation of a ticket for their community.

In fact, dissatisfaction has been brewing among the Vadabalijas for the past three years, which is evident with the elders trying to consolidate the community position by organising ward wise meetings and forming ward committees and town committees. Prominent among those striving for consolidating the Vadabalija community include veteran Gandhian Chodipalli Hanumantha Rao, Donka Mohan Rao and Chekka Krishnamurthy.

With the Assembly elections fast coming up, the efforts of the Vadabalija community have been stepped up for achieving recognition and independent political identity. Since Vanamadi Venkateswara Rao, MLA in the dissolved Assembly, is again seeking re-nomination, the Vadabalijas have also started putting their weight behind securing the Telugu Desam Party ticket, much to the discomfiture of the ex-MLA. Chapa Rajyalakshmi, a highly educated woman from the Vadabalija community, has staked her claim for the Telugu Desam ticket and even went a step ahead by meeting Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu recently seeking his blessings.

In this background, the district level Vadabalija Chaitanya Sadassu organised at Kakinada on Sunday attained significance, with the Sadassu resolving to field members from its community for at least one seat in Kakinada, Sampara or Thallarevu Assembly constituencies. It has resolved to extend support to Ms. Rajyalakshmi who has staked her claim for TDP ticket from Kakinada seat. Among those who addressed the Sadassu include leaders like Dasari Satyanarayana, Chodipalli Hanumantha Rao, Mydu Haribabu, Kode Surya Rao, Chekka Krishnamurty and Donka Mohan Rao. Municipal Health Officer, B.V.V. Satyanarayana, and Chodipalli Satyaprasada, Municipal Councillor, have called upon Vadabalijas to fight for their rights.

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