Araku parliamentary constituency, spread across four districts and with dense forest, is a unique Lok Sabha segment which came into existence after the 2008 delimitation process.
Extremism, lack of infrastructure, drinking water supply, poor quality of education and particularly lack of health awareness are the common problems in the constituency. The segment is very close to Odisha and Maoists have a very strong presence in several pockets. The encounters between Maoists and the police, killing of informers, destruction of government assets are major problems.
The constituency, though endowed with a bounty of natural wealth, is denied potable drinking water. Though several infrastructure development works were initiated over the past decade, none of them have been completed. Plans to develop the agency circuit and forest friendly tourism projects by the Union government are confined to papers.
Bauxite mining issue is an important issue in the constituency. The minter rich lands are spread across Araku and Paderu of Visakhapatnam district. The Andhra Pradesh government had signed a MoU with AnRAk and Jindal. However, the Union tribal welfare ministry objected to the proposal. Tribals are up in arms against bauxite mining, as it would almost destroy them.
Another burning issue is demand from Konda Kummarulu for ST status. The large community, who live in dire poverty, are still denied Scheduled Tribe status. The Konda Kummarulu are in several thousands in the constituency and are one of the top five deciding factors of the outcome. In Araku they number 30,000.
Assembly segments in the constituency are: Palakonda (ST), Kurupam (ST), Parvathipuram (SC), Salur (ST), Araku Valley (ST), Paderu (ST), Rampachodavaram (ST).
