The Hindu : National / Elections 2004 : A family fight in Bapatla

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Saturday, Apr 24, 2004

National

National - Elections 2004

A family fight in Bapatla

M. Rajeev

VIJAYAWADA

It is a battle within the Daggubati family in the Bapatla Lok Sabha constituency, a key one in the coastal Andhra region. The Telugu Desam Party's Daggubati Rama Naidu, who represented the constituency in the dissolved Lok Sabha, faces a formidable foe in Daggubati Purandareswari, his relative and TDP founder N.T. Rama Rao's elder daughter. She is contesting on the Congress ticket. While Mr. Rama Naidu is banking on the development works he initiated in different Assembly segments falling under the Lok Sabha seat both with the Government funds as well as those from his own charitable trust, Ms. Purandeswari immediately struck a chord with the voters by announcing her intentions to fight against the present TDP headed by her brother-in-law, N. Chandrababu Naidu. The Bapatla seat has an electorate of 9.46 lakhs, including 4.65 lakh men and 4.80 lakh women.

Mr. Rama Naidu is urging the people to "see the development achieved in the constituency and cast your vote" while Ms. Purandareswari wants the people to "undo the neglect meted out to farmers and other downtrodden sections which were dearer to N.T. Rama Rao." The personal aura of the contestants is, of course, a key factor in deciding their fate, but, the equations in the seven Assembly segments — Bapatla, Ponnur, Kuchinapudi (in Guntur district) and Martur, Parchur, Chirala and Addanki (in Prakasam district) — are likely to tilt the balance. Sensing the seriousness in the contest after Ms. Purandareswari entered the fray, the TDP has fielded strong contestants in the Assembly segments to take on the Congress contestants.

Mr. Rama Naidu who secured a victory margin of over 92,000 votes in the previous elections, a majority of the votes from the Martur and Chirala Assembly constituencies, is working hard to keep his vote bank intact. But, the equations in the two constituencies appear to have changed after the Congress nominated its senior leader, K. Rosaiah, from Chirala and G. Ravi (Bujji), from Martur. The presence of Ms. Purnadareswari's husband and former Minister, Daggubati Venkateswara Rao, in the fray as a Congress candidate from Parchur, appears to have become a cause of concern for the TDP. The allegedly strained relations between Mr. Rama Naidu and senior leaders such as Garataiah are raising doubts about the extent of cooperation they will extend to him from their respective segments. The TDP leadership is trying to mobilise the Congress dissidents, expected to work in its favour following denial of the Congress ticket to them in its favour.

For Ms. Purandareswari, the anti-incumbency factor, absence of any opposition to her candidature and the almost negligible impact of group rivalries seem to be working in her favour. Though considered a novice in direct politics, Ms. Purandareswari, who used to write speeches for her father, is able to communicate well with the people.

Given this background, the political circles as well as the people are anxiously awaiting the outcome of this interesting battle.

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