The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : BCs to decide the fate of Jadcherla poll nominees poll scene

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Wednesday, May 28, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

BCs to decide the fate of Jadcherla poll nominees poll scene

S. Venugopal

MAHABUBNAGAR: Voters belonging to the Backward Classes will decide the fate of the three candidates in the fray for the Jadcherla Assembly seat. Out of the 1.80 lakh voters in the constituency, BCs account for more than 90,000 followed by SCs and STs who number 30,000 each. Telugu Desam candidate M. Chandra Shekhar alias Yerra Shekhar is playing the BC card to capture the seat which he lost to Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the 2004 elections. Congress nominee Dr. Mallu Ravi is harping on the theme of development achieved under the Rajasekhara Reddy government. The TRS nominee Dr. C. Laxma Reddy is depending on the Telangana sentiment that is prevalent among youth and the employees.

Since the inception of Telugu Desam in 1982, a major chunk of the BC voters have been sailing with the party and helping its candidates win the seat five times. The Congress won in three elections and TRS in 2004 elections in alliance with the Congress. This time round, there seems to be a perceptible shift in the preference of BC voters. This is mainly because the TDP candidate’s failure to maintain a rapport with these voters who supported him in the 1995 byelections and 1999 general elections. His slain brother M. Satyanarayana (Yerra Satyam) had won the seat in 1994.

Local leaders feel that the Congress and the TRS will split a majority of the BC votes among themselves. These two parties are also pinning hopes on support from ST voters in the 210 lambada thandas. It was with an eye on these votes that TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao launched the ‘Thanda Nidra’ (night halt in a thanda) and donated Rs. one lakh to a lambada family that was in distress. Mallu Ravi also made a night halt in a thanda in Balanagar mandal and had a supper with the tribals before he was nominated as the Congress candidates. Being a member of the SC community, Mr. Ravi is confident of getting their support.

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