Weavers and Venkatagiri Rajas might influence the result
The Venkatagiri Assembly seat is expected to see an intense election contest since the nominees from the TDP and YSRC are members of well-known political families.
The TDP has enlisted Kurugondla Lakshmi Sai Priya, the daughter of two-time Venkatagiri MLA Kurugondla Ramakrishna, while the YSRC has nominated Nedurumalli Ramkumar Reddy, the son of former chief minister N Janardhana Reddy.
The Venkatagiri Rajas have great sway over the area and often assume the position of king-maker. In both 2009 and 2014, the royal family was a major factor in the triumph of TDP candidates. But it seems that the Venkatagiri Rajas are now leaning more in the direction of the YSRC than the TDP.
The Venkatagiri Rajas have been staunch supporters of the TDP from its founding. The Venkatagiri municipality, rural areas, Dakkili, Balayapalli, and several other portions of the constituency are home to supporters of the royal family.
In order to get votes in the elections, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu has also instructed Kurugondla Ramakrishna and his daughter Lakshmi Priya to approach the Venkatagiri Rajas for assistance.
In both the 2009 and 2014 general elections, Kurugondla Ramakrishna of the TDP emerged victorious from the seat. Nedurumalli Rajyalakshmi, a Congress candidate, won the seat in the elections of 2004 and 1999. But Anam Ramnarayana Reddy of YSRC defeated Ramakrishna in 2019.
In 2018, Anam moved from the TDP to the YSRC. But he was suspended due to alleged cross-voting. After that, he joined the TDP again and is now running for the Atmakur seat.
Venkatagiri, the fourth-biggest municipality in the Nellore district, is still lacking adequate drainage infrastructure. Venkatagiri, which was formed as a Grade-III municipality by combining six gram panchayats, has an excessive amount of traffic since it lacks adequate roadways.
Since Venkatagiri is well-known for its handlooms, many merchants come to the town to buy sarees and clothing components. Weavers make up a significant portion of the Backward Class vote, with 40,000 voters. As a result, in their local manifestos, politicians from both parties have been instructed to emphasize weaver-centric initiatives.
K Vasu of Ontel Street said, “Sewage water has been stagnant in open spaces which has resulted in a rampant mosquito menace,” emphasizing the need of an appropriate drainage system. The stagnant water is not cleared by any mechanism. The matter has been brought up to municipal authorities on many occasions, but it has been ignored.
TDP candidate Lakshmi Priya said that the YSRC administration had not improved Venkatagiri or the State and that she intended to develop the town completely. She said, “Chandrababu Naidu has a vision to take the State on the path of development, so people are ready to elect him as chief minister.”
Ramkumar was tasked by the YSRC with supervising the party’s operations in the Venkatagiri seat after Anam was suspended.
Speaking with confidence, Ramkumar said that the governing YSRC has undertaken development projects and welfare programs in the Venkatagiri segment and that “people will embrace Jagan as he has fulfilled all promises made during the last elections.” He went on to say that the YSRC, led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, was proceeding with plans to win 175 seats in the next elections.
