Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Caste will have a say in ballot

By G.V. Ramana Rao

VIJAYAWADA, APRIL 25. Gudivada Assembly constituency, a key segment under the Machilipatnam Lok Sabha seat, is likely to witness a keen contest with the caste composition here presenting a complex picture. The Scheduled Castes, Kapus and minority votes in the constituency represented in the dissolved Assembly by the TDP candidate, Raavi Venkateswara Rao, may play an important role in deciding the fate of the candidates, Kodali Sri Venkateswara Rao alias Nani of the TDP and Katari Eswara Kumar representing the Congress.

While Mr. Nani hails from the dominant Kamma community which has over 19,000 voters, Mr. Eswara Kumar is from the Yadava community which has 13,800 votes. The Scheduled Castes have the majority of votes - 36,000- followed by the Kapu community which has 22,000 votes. In addition, there are over 10,000 minority voters whose votes will be a key factor.

The fishermen, Vysya, Rajaka, Brahmin and Gouda communities have about 26,000 votes in the constituency. The Congress leaders are confident that the anti-incumbency factor and the local equations have turned the SCs and Kapus in favour of their candidate Mr. Eswara Kumar, who polled over 26,000 votes as an independent in the previous elections. But the TDP leaders rule out a one-sided affair claiming that a major section of the SC and Kapu vote was still with them.

The caste equation apart, both the TDP and the Congress candidates face simmering internal dissidence. Though the opposition has not come into open on both sides, supporters of Raavi Venkateswara Rao are said to be striving to mobilise opinion against Mr. Nani. Hailing from the same community as Mr. Nani, Mr. Rao, whose family represented the constituency thrice earlier, can upset the TDP's apple cart.

Mr. Eswara Kumar too has to contend with resistance from the Gudivada Municipal chairman, Nugalapu Venkateswara Rao. This apart, the Gouda community, traditional rivals of the Yadava community and which has over 8,000 votes, is likely to vote against the Congress candidate. While Mr. Eswara Kumar is banking on the anti-incumbency factor, the TDP nominee received a shot in the arm with the Telugu film star, NTR Jr, campaigning for him on Saturday.

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