The YSRC largely absorbed the Congress’ voter base in the previous elections, and a similar scenario was expected in 2024. However, the selection of Koppula Raju with a positive reputation as the Congress candidate for the Nellore Lok Sabha seat is seen as a strategic move. Historically, the TDP has won Nellore Lok Sabha seat twice, with Puchalapalli Penchalaiah securing victory in 1984 and Vukkala Rajeswaramma in 1999. However, it faced defeat on six occasions, notably in 2009 when TDP nominee Vanteru Venugopal Reddy lost to Congress candidate Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy by a margin of 54,993 votes.
In subsequent elections, the TDP faced defeats in 2012, 2014 and 2019, with YSRC candidates emerging victorious. In 2012, YSRC nominee Rajamohan Reddy secured a substantial margin of victory over TDP candidate Venugopala Reddy. Similarly, in 2014, YSRC’s Rajamohan Reddy narrowly defeated TDP’s Adala Prabhakara Reddy. In 2019, YSRC’s Prabhakara Reddy defeated TDP’s Beeda Masthan Rao by a significant margin.The YSRC’s success in the 2014 and 2019 elections was attributed to the sympathy factor for former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy and the popularity of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. However, the TDP believes that the political landscape has changed since the previous elections, with growing dissatisfaction among the populace towards the governance of the YSRC, leading to anti-incumbency sentiments in the State.
Vemireddy’s presence has bolstered the TDP’s strength in Nellore City, Nellore Rural, Udayagiri, Kavali and Kandukur Assembly segments.
Additionally, the presence of the Congress in the fray could potentially split votes, further benefiting the TDP. While the YSRC swept the last general elections in Nellore in 2019 by winning all 10 Assembly seats, the elections pose a challenge to the ruling party. Anti-incumbency sentiments against the ruling party legislators, coupled with internal discord, are emerging as significant concerns affecting their electoral prospects.
Nellore district predominantly comprises leaders from Reddy and Kapu (Balija locally) communities. The Somasila reservoir, situated across the river Penna near Somasila village in Ananthasagaram mandal of Atmakur segment has the capacity to receive water by gravity from Srisailam reservoir, making it one of the largest reservoirs in the Penna river basin. Despite this potential, farmers in the region faced irrigation water scarcity during the last season.
The Somasila High-Level canal project, intended to supply irrigation water from the Somasila reservoir, remains pending, with no significant progress in execution in recent years. This canal is crucial for meeting the irrigation and drinking water needs of the people in several upland mandals in Atmakur and Udayagiri Assembly segments.
“The High-Level Canal caters to the needs of irrigation and drinking water for more than three upland mandals of Atmakur and Udayagiri segments. Both TDP and YSRC have neglected the completion of this crucial project in the region,” said KN Swamy, a farmer from Marripadu.
Problems galore in upland mandals
Farmers in Marripadu and Atmakur mandals, which are major tobacco-producing areas in Atmakur Assembly constituency, face challenges due to drought conditions. People of drought-prone areas in Udayagiri segment, including Vinjamur, Duttalur, Seetharamapuram, Kaligiri, Jaladanki and Varikuntapadu mandals, struggle to access drinking water with no concrete proposals to address the issue. However, Juvvaladinne fishing harbour is all set to cater the needs of fishermen
