Srikakulam District Profile: Parties, Candidates List

Srikakulam district is one of the most backward districts in the state and is beset with problems, most notably, drinking water supply, water for irrigation and widespread kidney diseases. Poverty and the issue of migrations by locals to other places in search of livelihood are other major problems. The district is home to revolutions and has been a hub of politics. With days away for elections, it appears that Srikakulam is set for a major change. Once a TDP bastion, Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy changed the picture here and in 2014, the battle was between the YSR Congress and the TDP. However, there is sweeping resentment against the ruling party which has not fulfilled any one of its promises, be it an airport at Etcherla or a port at Kalingapatnam. Battered by Hud Hud and Cyclone Titli, the victims of these natural disasters have suffered at the hands of the TDP. Voters here are furious with the indiscriminate sand mining of sand reaches of Nagavali, Vamsadhara, Vegavati and Swarnamukhi. TDP MLAs Koona Ravi Kumar, Athcannaidu, and Kala Venkat Rao are reportedly associated in a big way with the illegal sand mining here.

As in other parts of the state the Praja Sankalpa Yatra undertaken by YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was highly popular here with huge crowds thronging the Padayatra route and public meetings.

Srikakulam district has ten assembly constituencies and a Lok Sabha seat. The main contest in all these constituencies is between the YSR Congress Party which is riding a popular wave of tremendous goodwill across the whole state and the TDP which faces a powerful Tsunami of anti-incumbency. Others like Jana Sena, Congress and BJP are non-players.

In the assembly constituency of Etcherla Gorle Kiran Kumar of the YSR Congress Party faces a stiff fight from TDP's Kimidi Kala Venkat Rao.

The prestigious Srikakulam assembly constituency is currently represented the powerful YSR Congress Party leader Dharmana Prasada Rao, who takes on TDP's Gunda Lakshmi Devi. Dharmana Krishna Dasu is contesting from the Narsannapeta constituency on behalf of the YSRCP against TDP's Baggu Ramana Murthy.

Palasa constituency is currently held by TDP's Gouthu Sivaji who won the seat in 2014. His daughter Sireesha faces off against YSR Congress Party's Sidari Appala Raju in the April 11 election.

YSR Congress Party has fielded one of its heavyweights from the district, Tammineni Sitaram from Amadalavalasa. He takes the sitting MLA from TDP Kuna Ravi Kumar. Locals are seething with anger against the TDP candidate for non-delivery of election promises.

Rajam constituency is reserved for SCs and is held by YSR Congress Party's Kambala Jogulu. He takes on TDP's Kondru Murali, a former Congressman. The YSRCP candidate has deep grassroots connect and is expected to win.

Patapatnam is currently held by the YSRCP. YSRCP's Reddi Santhi and TDP's K. Venkataramana face off here in the April 11 elections.

In Palakonda (reserved for candidates from Scheduled Tribes) YSRCP's Visawasarayi Kalavathi a popular local candidate and sitting MLA takes on TDP's Nimmaka Jayakrishna.

In Tekkali, P. Tilak of the YSR Congress Party, a popular local leader, fights the powerful TDP minister Kinjavarapu Achhannaidu.

Ichhapuram assembly constituency holds great significance because it is here that YS Jagan concluded his 14 month-long Padayatra. In 2003 late Dr. YSR had also ended his Padayatra here as did YS Sharmila when she undertook a Padayatra. Ichhapuram will see a fight between YSRCP's grassroots politician P. Sairaj and TDP's Bendalam Ashok. While the TDP is trying every trick in the book, the YSRCP is banking on good work, popular goodwill and people's call for change.

Srikakulam Lok Sabha Constituency

Duvvada Srinivas of the YSRCP is set to storm the Srikakulam Lok Sabha constituency which is a stronghold of the Kinjarapu family. The present MP Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu and his uncle Minister Atchannaidu are known to hold a sway in this region, but there is widespread dissent among the people as they are said to be indulging in large scale sand and granite mining and looting the place.

Compared to them, Duvvada Srinivas is a common man who understands the people's problems at the ground level . He has toured all the seven constituencies and has gained an edge over others during his previous election stints.

Srinivas joined politics at the behest of late Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy. He worked as a ZPTC member and late become the Vice President. He had staged several protests against the Thermal Plant and received widespread appreciation for his work amongst the people.

Despite being targetted by the Kinjarapu family who had even gone to the extent of damaging his business, he continued to work relentlessly. Srinivas is all set to break the stranglehold of the Kinjavarapu family here.

Also Read: Amalapuram Lok Sabha Constituency Profile