When Domestic Conflicts Turn Into Election Frontlines. An Account of a Toxic Marriage in Andhra Couple

In the midst of the election war, an intriguing conflict has emerged in Andhra Pradesh, where a marital disagreement has turned into a polling place. A member of the zila parishad has threatened to run against her husband, who is the YSRCP’s nominee for the Srikakulam district’s Tekkali assembly seat.

A Times of India story claims that a video of zila parishad member Duvvada Vani, who is heard declaring she will run against her husband Duvvada Srinivas, has gone viral.

The paper traced the political couple’s tumultuous relationship, stating that it all started when Srinivas’s candidate was proclaimed by the YSRCP in April 2023.

According to reports, Vani had complained to the YSRC’s upper management about her husband’s “objectionable” actions in the political arena and at home.

At the time, chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy said that Vani would take over as the new representative for the seat, citing her comments as credible. This was reported in the Deccan Chronicle.

The husband and wife both started their own offices and ran independent campaigns. As the ZTPC of Tekkali, Vani had influence in the party up to that point.

Many people speculated that she might get a Tekkali Lok Sabha election ticket due to the party’s considerable support. But her spouse was fielded by Jagan Mohan’s party instead.

As per TOI, Vani declared her plan to challenge her spouse at her birthday bash earlier this week, and her followers said she would submit her candidacy on April 22 in the event that the party decided not to nominate her.

The article further said that Vani’s revolt was sparked by the party’s decision to run Srinivas after the announcement of the vote timetable in March.