VIJAYAWADA: After TDP’s Bonda Umamaheswara Rao lost the Vijayawada Central Assembly constituency to YSRC’s Malladi Vishnuvardhan Reddy by just 25 votes in 2019, the tussle in the segment is sure to be an interesting one this time.
While the yellow party has roped in Bonda Uma for the third consecutive time, the ruling YSRC has given the ticket to Vijayawada West sitting MLA Velampalli Srinivasa Rao, replacing sitting legislator Malladi Vishnu.
Two major communities—Kapus and Brahmins—are likely to influence the poll outcome. Kapus account for 11.83% vote share, followed by 9.3% Brahmins, 8% Muslims and 10% Scheduled Castes. Both parties are striving to impress voters from all the communities.
The belief that the poll outcome in Vijayawada Central reflects the mood of the State has added more intrigue to make the electoral battle.
Since the constituency was established in 2008 as per the Delimitation Orders, whichever candidate emerged victorious in the segment, his party has won the State elections.
Majority of the people residing in the Central constituency belong to the middle-class and their demands are simple—proper roads and drainage system, drinking water supply to all residential colonies, and prospects of employment and occupation. Whichever party promises to reign in the inflation rate of essential commodities and increasing taxes can have the blessings of people.
Speaking to TNIE, Bonda Uma exuded confidence and said growing anti-incumbency against the ruling party’s candidate will benefit the TDP. He also hoped that the alliance with JSP and the BJP will give more strength to the party and help it in recording a thumping victory.
“The JSP-CPI alliance in 2019 took away the winning chances of TDP. Now that the JSP and BJP are with the TDP, winning the seat will be a cakewalk,” said Bonda Uma.
On the other hand, Velampalli Srinivasa was equally confident about the ruling party retaining the seat. He said the voters rejected Bonda Uma in the previous elections, owing to his deeds of land grabbing, corruption and abuse of power.
“Everyone in Vijayawada very well knows how Bonda Uma abused power during the TDP regime. He was accused of land grabbing in the constituency. Vexed, people voted in favour of the YSRC and the same will repeat in the upcoming elections,” Velampalli asserted.
Meanwhile, the public opined that while the YSRC candidate was being supported by the Brahmins, SCs and BCs, Kapus are likely to support Bonda Uma as he belongs to the same community.