The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Anantapur News : Congress is still in search of candidate for byelection

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 06, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Congress is still in search of candidate for byelection

By B. Chandrashekhar

Penukonda is going to be a test for the ruling party

ANANTAPUR: The fact that four out of five persons elected as legislators of this faction-ridden constituency were murdered in rivalry between two families on one side and the other against them sums up the situation in the faction-ridden constituency of Penukonda in Anantapur district.

The by-election to the constituency has been necessitated with the murder of the sitting legislator, Paritala Ravindra (TDP), in January last week this year. The rivalry between the Gangula and Sane families on one side and Paritala on the other has ruined all the three families.

G. Narayana Reddy (elected in 1978), S. Chenna Reddy (1989), S.V. Ramana Reddy (1991) and P. Ravindra (1994, '96, '99 and 2004) were murdered in the rivalry.

Equal dominance

Of the 14 elections held to the Assembly seat, including two by-elections so far, the Congress and TDP won six times each and independents twice. The constituency has an electorate of 1,68,774 spread in Penukonda, Somandepalli, Roddam, Chennekothapalli, Kanaganapalli and Ramagiri mandals.

After the murder of Ravindra, the Congress camp has been buoyant till the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's reported disapproval of the proposal for fielding either G. Bhanumati, the wife of Suri, who is the main accused in the Ravindra murder case, or the former MP, S. Gangadhar. Since then, the search for a suitable candidate either from the Boya or Kuruba community (both BCs) is on, irrespective of the queuing up of a large number of aspirants from all spheres. The Chief Minister has also reportedly distanced himself from the affairs of the constituency by deciding against campaigning for the by-poll and shouldering the responsibility of selecting a candidate and ensuring victory on the two Ministers from the district.

TDP firm

On the other hand, the TDP has already made up its mind on the candidature of Ravindra's widow, P. Sunita, though it is yet to be announced officially. The party leaders have been repeatedly naming her as their candidate and there has been no denial either by the leadership or by the prospective candidate.

Condolence meetings held for Ravindra across the constituency already have been utilised for indirect campaigning by the TDP. On Wednesday, party leaders Y. Dayakar Reddy, B.V. Mohan Reddy and others appealed to the people to ensure a thumping victory for Ms. Sunita as their real tribute to Ravindra, at a condolence meeting at Somandepalli. They also went to Venkatapuram later and had a discussion with Ms. Sunita.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Wednesday directed the district administration to defer the Praja Patham programme till the completion of polling for the by-election.

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Congress is still in search of candidate for byelection