Prakasam District: Lok Sabha And Assembly Constituencies, Candidate Profiles 

The name Prakasam district conjures images of freedom fighters. It is the birthplace of some of the greatest men who fought for the country’s independence including Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu. Prakasam district is rich in natural resources which have not been utilised to their fullest potential and has a coastline of 103 km.

Three districts were merged to form Prakasam district in 1970, which was named after the great freedom fighter Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu in 1972.

Prakasam District has a total population of over 35 lakhs.

To alleviate the suffering of people in this water-starved region, Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy started the Veligonda irrigation project and though 60% of the work was completed during his tenure, the Chandrababu Naidu government failed to take it forward.

On completion the project will irrigate 4.5 lakh acres in the districts of Prakasam, YSR Kadapa and Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore. It will also provide drinking water to 15 lakh people in this region where water has heavy fluoride content leading to high incidence of kidney diseases.

More than 400 people died of kidney disease in one year which gives us an idea of the gravity of the problem.

Poverty, kidney disease, socio-economic backwardness and acute shortage of drinking water add to the difficulties people in this drought ridden district face.

The completion of Veligonda project has been high on the YSR Congress party‘s agenda and it has staged many protests on this count. Former Ongole MP YV Subba Reddy raised the issue in the Lok Sabha as well. He also led protests in this regard.

Prakasam district has 1 Lok Sabha and 12 assembly constituencies. Five assembly constituencies were won by the YSRCP in 2014, while it also emerged victorious in the Ongole Lok Sabha constituency.

While the Jana Sena led by Pawan Kalyan, the Congress and the BJP are in the fray, for the most part they are non-players in the region. The principal fight as elsewhere in the state, is between YSR Congress party and TDP.

Coming to he battle for representation in the Parliament, the YSR Congress party has fielded Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy for the Ongole Lok Sabha seat. He will take on Sidha Raghava Rao from the TDP.

Assembly constituencies:

In Yerragondapalem (SC-Reserved) Dr. Suresh Audimulapu takes on Budhala Ajitha Rao of the TDP. Riding a popular YSRCP wave, Dr Suresh who is a grassroots leader will be a favourite for this seat.

Darsi will see a fight between Madisetty Venugopal of the YSR Congress party and Kadiri Babu Rao.

Parchur will be the scene of a contest between NTR’s older son-in-law and TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu‘s arch rival, Daggubati Venkateswara Rao and Yelluri Sambasiva Rao of the TDP.

While it is expected that Chandrababu Naidu will try every trick in the trade to ensure the defeat of his close relative, the tidal wave of support which YSR Congress party enjoys in the entire state and in this region is likely to see the party candidate home.

In Addanki Bachina Chenchu Garatiah of The YSRCP takes on Gottipatti Ravi of the TDP in what is being seen as a YSRCP seat.

Chirala will see a battle royal between YSRCP favourite Amanchi Krishna Mohan and Karanam Balarama Krishna Murthy of the TDP. The ruling party candidate faces widespread resentment in this area and is likely to face defeat. Jana Sena and Congress are seen as minor players in this electoral battle.

In The YSRCP stronghold of Santhanuthalapadu, a seat reserved for members of the SC community, TDP’s B. Vijay Kumar fights against a popular YSRCP leader, Tjr Sudhakar Babu.

In Ongole constituency, Balineni Srinivasa Reddy of the YSRCP appears to be clearly ahead of his TDP rival Damacharla Janardhan. Others including BJP, Congress and Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena are not major contenders here.

In Kandukur YSRCP candidate Maheedhar Reddy Manugunta faces off against Pothula Rama Rao of the TDP.

Kondapi Assembly constituency reserved for members of the SC communities will be the scene of an electoral battle between Dr. M. Venkaiah of the YSRCP and GBV Swamy of the TDP.

KP Nagarjuna Reddy of the YSRCP faces off against Kandula Narayana Reddy of the TDP in Markapuram.

Giddalur Assembly constituency will witness a fight between Anna Venkata Rambabu of the YSR Congress party and M. Ashok Reddy of the TDP.

Kanigiri is a drought hit part of the district where people suffer from kidney diseases. In this constituency YSRCP candidate Madhusudan Yadav takes on Mukku Ugra Narsimha Reddy of the TDP.

Also Read: Chandrababu Blocked Award Of Bharat Ratna To NTR: Narne Srinivasa Rao