Today is the last day for nominations. Next 2 weeks will be filled with intense campaigning by the leaders of all political parties. People are curious to see who will have the last laugh and analysts are busy checking the prospects of the candidates using the feedback on them, social equations and the muscle and money power of the candidates. Vijayawada MP seat is contested by Kesineni Nani from TDP, Potluri Vara Prasad from YSRCP and Muttamsetty Sudhakar from Janasena. The contestants from BJP, Congress and other parties do not have much prospects.
TDP contestant Kesineni Nani
TDP contestant Kesineni Nani entered into politics when Chiranjeevi floated Praja Rajyam Party in 2008. But he came out of PRP later and made very wild allegations on Chiranjeevi that he came into politics with the aim of earning 2,500 crores of rupees. In 2014, Kesineni Nani contested on TDP Ticket from Vijayawada Lok Sabha Constituency and won by over 75,000 votes majority against YSRCP’s Vijay Sai Reddy. In 2014 also PVP wanted to contest that seat and there were rumors about PVP getting that seat through Pawan kalyan. However Kesineni Nani made appeal to Pawan through media and finally he got the ticket. But later he made some scathing comments on Pawan Kalyan too.
On the positive side, Nani is claiming to have taken up huge developmental works in the constituency and reminding that he along with other MPs of the party fought for special category status with BJP. However, there are many negative remarks and Kesineni Nani surrounded with several controversies. People and media were astonished when Transport Commissioner Balasubrahmanyam was attacked by MP Kesineni Srinivas and MLA Bonda Uma Maheswara Rao. Their unparliamentarily language and attitude was widely criticized. Finally CBN had to step-in and reprimand the MP. After CM’s advice, MP publicly apologized the officer. There were other incidents like he quit the transport business, which he has been doing since several decades, 2 years back. He took the decisions after repeated accusations regarding private travels mafia. Also, many works in the constituency like Durga temple flyover etc are all still pending.
YSRCP contestant PVP:
There were rumors in political circles that, YSRCP has shown some survey results to PVP that says YSRCP is going to win the seat of Vijayawada MP and PVP funded YSRCP heavily to get the seat. Also, as per the same rumors, he later realized that picture is not that rosy. We are not sure how true are these rumors but PVP got MP ticket immediately after joining YSRCP unlike many other leaders who did not get the ticket despite serving the party for years. Dasari Jai Ramesh, who is one of the investors in Andhra Jyothi also joined YSRCP expecting the same ticket but didn’t get ticket. Compared to Kesineni, who can be accessed by the public as he is local, PVP is newcomer to the constituency. He doesn’t enjoy the ‘local advantage’ Kesineni enjoys. PVP is betting heavily on Jagan’s personal charisma and YSRCP cadre strength rather than his own power.
Janasena contestant Muthamsetti Sudhakar:
He is former Lawyer. It seems Pawan gave him ticket based on social equations. While both Kesineni and PVP belong to the same community that dominates Vijayawada politics, Muthamsetti Sudhakar belongs to other community that has huge presence in Vijayawada politics. Given the reports of silent voting for Janasena in some constituencies, he is also looking strong.
Overall:
Overall, it is going to be a triangular fight for Vijaywada MP. We will have to wait and see who will win this seat.
