YSRC ought to be assigned to the Bapatla Assembly seat

There will be a fierce contest in Bapatla as the TDP aims to establish itself and the YSRC hopes to win a hat-trick. Industry magnate and philanthropist Vegesana Narendra Varma received a ticket from the TDP, whereas Kona Raghupathi, the current MLA, was filed by the YSRC.

Three mandals make up the Bapatla Assembly constituency: Karlavaripalem, Pittalavanipalem, and Bapatla. The section served as the Congress’s stronghold.

In this section, the Reddy community comprises the majority of voters. Nonetheless, YSRC was able to unseat the established party. Kona Raghupathi, the current MLA and former deputy speaker, won the segment twice in a row in 2014 and 2019. Raghupati’s father, Kona Prabhakar Rao, was elected as the constituency’s MLA three times, in 1967, 1972, and 1978, giving the Kona family a stronghold in the region.

YSRC senior leader and former minister Gade Venkatreddy made a concerted effort to install his successor, Madhusudhan Reddy, as an MLA, hoping to win over the large number of Reddy supporters in the area. However, the high command chose Kona for a third time in a row in order to win over Brahmin votes.

After the TDP lost the 2014 and 2019 Assembly elections, strong leader in the area Annam Satish Prabhakar quit and joined the BJP, which dealt a blow to the party. Later on, however, the party named Vegesana as the constituency in-charge. Since then, he has engaged in a number of public outreach initiatives to fortify party cadres at the local level and establish himself as a formidable leader.

It would be fascinating to see whether Brahmin voters support Kona again or go with the NDA, because the BJP is counting on the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya to get votes.

But, it seems that the YSRC has an edge in this area since it created the district of Bapatla and made Bapatla town the district headquarters, satisfying the people’s long-standing desire.

In addition, the results of the poll may be significantly influenced by the building of a bypass road, a medical college, a 500-bed government hospital, infrastructural development, and social programs.

Retired government official K Dinanath, who lives in Bapatla town, said that the town has developed significantly in the last several years. “The construction of the bypass road will ease traffic woes in the town and the establishment of government hospitals will help the rural people not to rush to Bapatla town for treatment,” he said.

Another resident, Lakshmi Priya, said that her family had profited from YSRC government programs. In particular, my kids attend government schools where they get excellent instruction. However, an adequate supply of water has become a key concern owing to the town’s urbanization and subsequent population growth. Leaders need to emphasize this, she said.A Ramanath shared his thoughts, saying that the TDP’s Super 6 are superior than the social programs the YSRC administration is putting in place. “I am confident that Chandrababu Naidu will deliver on his commitments and create wealth, should the TDP win the next elections,” he said.