The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Will Diwakar Reddy's winning streak continue?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 26, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Will Diwakar Reddy's winning streak continue?

By B. Chandrashekhar

TADIPATRI, APRIL 25. The strategic move of the TDP to field K. Suryapratap Reddy against the four-time legislator and deputy leader of the CLP in the dissolved Assembly, J.C. Diwakar Reddy, in the Tadipatri Assembly constituency has made the contest keen.

Mr. Suryapratap Reddy is contesting from Tadipatri for the first time. Earlier, he had contested from the neighbouring Dharmavaram constituency.

Violence on the final day of filing of nominations on April 7 at Tadipatri created fear among people of the constituency. As a result, the law and order machinery took several measures to ensure a free and fair poll.

Congress and TDP rivals in the electoral battle here had a running factional feud to gain supremacy over the area in the late '80s and early '90s in spite of being in the same party.

Mr. Suryapratap Reddy used to take on Mr. Diwakar Reddy on behalf of Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

In spite of facing some resentment from voters here and there for the reason that he would show his face only before elections every time, Mr. Diwakar Reddy enjoys good reputation all over the constituency.

On the other hand, Mr. Suryapratap Reddy is facing dissidence in the party, particularly from P. Nagi Reddy, who lost to Mr. Diwakar Reddy in the last three elections and the party denied him ticket this time.

The TDP president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, had to intervene personally to pacify Mr. Nagi Reddy as the efforts of district leaders to mollify him had failed.

Though Mr. Nagi Reddy campaigned for the party nominee his loyalty to the TDP is being doubted.

Family members of Mr. Suryapratap Reddy, including women, toured the constituency extensively to garner support for him.

It is being believed that his chances purely depend on the support of the Nagi Reddy group and their vote bank. Factional feuds in the constituency, spread in Tadipatri rural, Pedda Pappur, Pedda Vadugur, Yadiki and Pamidi mandals, have been on the rise in recent months.

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