Interesting contest likely in Yanam

By Our Staff Reporter

RAJAHMUNDRY, JUNE 6. The by-election to the Yanaam Assembly seat, scheduled to be held on June 30, promises to be an interesting affair for more than one reason. First and foremost, Mr.Shanmugam, the Chief Minister of Pondicherry, of which Yanaam is a part, is seeking election as a Congress(I) candidate. But the man who would play a crucial role in the election is Mr.Malladi Krishna Rao, who had resigned his membership of the Assembly to enable Mr.Shanmugam to enter the Assembly. As an independent candidate, Mr.Krishna Rao was elected from Yanaam Assembly segment in 1996 with a record margin.

An interesting feature is the condition that Mr.Krishna Rao laid down for supporting the Chief Minister, Mr.Shanmugam. No local Congress(I) leader would be permitted to canvass for the Chief Minister, who would be the Congress(I) candidate, along with him during the election campaign. The anathema of Mr.Krishna Rao towards the Congress(I) is well known. Apparently, the Chief Minister had agreed to this condition, throwing local Congress(I) leaders into a predicament.

A study of the elections in Yanaam since 1996 shows the firm grip that Mr.Krishna Rao has on the electorate. The total number of votes in the Assembly segment then was about 15,500 (now the number had increased to more than 17,000) and Mr.Krishna, as an independent, had polled more than 8400 votes against his nearest Congress(I) rival and former MLA, Mr.V.Rajeswara Rao's 3600.

In the Lok Sabha election in 1998, Mr.Krishna Rao had decided to support the DMK candidate, Mr.Aruymugam, who had polled more than 7800 votes from this Assembly segment, against 4356 votes polled by the Congress(I) candidate. Again in the 1999 Lok Sabha election, Mr.Krishna Rao chose to support the TMC candidate, Mr.Kannan, who had polled a record number of more than 9000 votes against his nearest Congress(I) rival's 3100-odd votes.

Now Mr.Krishna Rao has decided to support the Congress(I) candidate. However, Mr.Krishna Rao has been trying to see that the election is unanimous. Speaking to The Hindu he said `I have resigned (since accepted) and made room for the Chief Minister with a view to ensuring the speedy development of Yanaam, which is possible if the Chief Minister represents this Assembly segment'.

General elections to the Yanaam Assembly would be held within seven months. Allotment of Rs.10.30 crores had already been made for the Assembly segment and works had also been finalised, Mr.Krishna Rao pointed out, implying that there would be not much that the new incumbent would be able to do. Things would however be different if the Chief Minister is elected from the Assembly segment, Mr.Krishna Rao pointed out.

In the past it had always been Krishna Rao vs.Congress(I) in this Assembly segment, located more than 800 km from Pondicherry of which it is a part. The percentage of voting had always been more than 75 per cent.

Notification for the by-election had already been issued. According to the schedule, the last date for filing nominations is June 12. Withdrawals would be permitted till June 16 and election would be held on June 30. Electronic voting system would be introduced in this election and counting would take place on July 5. Results would be available within an hour. According to Mr.Krishna Rao, the Chief Minister and Congress(I) candidate, Mr.Shanmugam would arrive at Yanaam on June 10 and file his nomination on June 12.

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