It’s not going to be easy for YSR Congress honorary president Y.S Vijayamma who has come long way from her native Kadapa and contesting from Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha seat. The non-local issue is going to have its affect in upcoming general elections. Vizag people are apparently fedup with “political migrators” as earlier they saw outsiders like Purandeswari, Nedurumalli Janardhan Reddy representing the constituency. Now, people are expecting their representative to hail from their constituency so that he/she knows the problems of the region and also available for them all the time.
Clearly, the battle for Vizag is essentially between TDP-BJP candidate Kambhampati Haribabu, State BJP president-former MLA, and rival YS Vijayamma. Dr Haribabu is former faculty member of Andhra University Engineering College and has strong connections in the area.
Kiran Reddy’s Jai Samaikyandhra Party has pitted Anakapalli sitting MP-former Mayor Sabbam Hari who could show considerable influence in the region. The Congress candidate is Bolisetty Satyanarayana (Satya) may not make much difference. But both JSP (floated by ex Congress CM and Reddy) and Congress party are likely to dent the votes of YSR Congress which is said to be big advantage for Hari Babu. Former YSR Congress leader Sabbam Hari’s accusations against its party will chop off YSR votes. Given that Vijayamma was total failure as MLA from Pulivendula as she hardly raised any public issues in Legislative Assembly, one could easily guess how she would do in Lok Sabha as she couldn’t speak well in English or Hindi. Then the big question is how Vijayamma could do good for Vizag people, Andhra Pradesh people. Already, Vijayamma’s roadshows in Vizag are getting moderate response which gives big boost for TDP-BJP.
No doubt, Vijayamma has some edge as she is backed by a section of Christian, Muslim voters. At the same time, Vizag segment has many urban voters and many first-time voters. Youth and educated are sailing with Chandra Babu-led TDP and Modi-led BJP, say reports. Above all, TDP Assembly candidates in Vizag Parliament segment are very strong and their victory is like cake walk. Political pundits predict ‘Cross Voting’ is unlikely in Seemandhra as people who vote for TDP-BJP in Assembly or Parliament may not vote for corrupt Jagan Reddy’s party by any chance.
If political behemoths Narendra Modi, Chandra Babu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan matra could go well in Vizag and TDP-BJP cadres can use the charm of trio in big way, definitely there are clear chances for TDP-BJP combine to thrash Vijayamma with slender majority. If it happens, definitely it will be big jolt to Jagan and create a kinda political histroy. Let’s see whether people of Vizag give such histroic result (on May 16) or not.
