It is a royal battle in Vizianagaram district. The descendants of six dynasties, representing different political parties, are contesting the elections on May 7. The biggest of them is between P Ashok Gajapati Raju of Vizianagaram Maharajas and RVSKK Ranga Rao alias Baby Nayana of Bobbili Samsthanam which is being termed the Bobbili war of modern times.
In the battle royale, Poosapaati Ashok Gajapathi Raju from the Vizianagaram royal family is contesting on Telugu Desam ticket for the Vizianagaram Lok Sabha seat. Challenging him is YSR Congress Party’s Ravu Venkata Swetha Chalapathi Kumar Krishna Ranga Rao (RVSKK Ranga Rao) alias Baby Nayana, the younger son of the former ruler of Bobbili who have had rivalry for centuries. The famous Bobbili war was fought between these two dynasties during 1757 where the Vizianagaram Maharajahs defeated the Bobbili rulers with the help of the French army.
As expected, the loyalties of people in the segments closer to their erstwhile kingdoms lie with their Raja. “The Bobbili rulers are known for their philanthropic activities and are amidst public, unlike the Vizianagaram Maharajahs who are not easily accessible. I have not seen Ashok Gajapathi Raju campaigning here. Besides, Baby Nayana has proved his mettle as the Bobbili municipal chairperson in 2005,” says K Gangulu, a fruit vendor at Bobbili.
However, Goni Eeswaramma of Nellimerla constituency holds a different view. She admits that Raju has not done any great work for the Vizianagaram Assembly constituency represented by him for over two decades. “But he has never shied away when we approached him for help. He might no have done great work but he has also not troubled us unlike Botcha Satyanarayana who used police forces to beat our children to protect his properties and filed false cases against youngsters,” she points out.
The Vizianagaram Lok Sabha constituency comprises seven Assembly segments of Etcherla, Rajam (SC), Bobbili, Cheepurupalle, Gajapathinagaram, Nellimarla and Vizianagaram with 13,72,197 voters.
While Ashok Gajapathi Raju has loyal vote bank in Nellimerla, Etcherla and Vizianagaram, the Bobbili rulers have Rajam and Bobbili as their stronghold. The winners will be decided by Cheepurupalle and Gajapathinagaram, of which former PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana has strong grip over Cheepurupalle constituency. Political observers say that the victory of any candidate largely depends on the votes polled in Gajapathinagaram and Cheepurupalle constituencies.
Union minister V Kishore Chandra Deo of the Kurupam zamindar family is contesting again from the Araku parliamentary constituency which is spread over four districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari. Deo, who is the sitting MP from Araku, is said to be facing a tough fight from YSR Congress nominee Kothapalli Geetha.
The Salur Assembly constituency also will be witnessing a royal fight between RP Bhanj Dev (TDP) who belongs to the Odiya Kshatriyas and HGB Andhra Baba (Congress) of the Andhra Zamindars. Janardhan Thatraj (TDP), who is contesting from the Kurupam Assembly constituency, belongs to the Melangi Zamindar family. His uncle Satrucharla Vijayarama Raju, who is contesting from the neighbouring Pathapatnam Assembly constituency, also belongs to the same family.
Royal Lineage
P Ashok Gajapati Raju
Vizianagaram Maharajas
RVSKK Ranga Rao alias Baby Nayana
Bobbili Samsthanam
V Kishore Chandra Deo
Kurupam Zamindars
RP Bhanj Dev
Odiya Kshatriyas
HGB Andhra Baba
Andhra Zamindars
Janardhan Thatraj
Melangi Zamindars
Satrucharla Vijayarama Raju
Melangi Zamindars
Assembly segments
Etcherla
Rajam (SC)
Bobbili
Cheepurupalle
Gajapathinagaram
Nellimarla
Vizianagaram