YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who has mastered the art of social engineering in the last four years, appears to be doing the same experiment in giving the party tickets for the forthcoming assembly elections in the state.
Knowing fully well that certain caste groups are dominating in a particular constituency for several years, Jagan is planning to experiment with other castes to attract the voters. He is of the view that this experiment would bring freshness to the contest.
For instance, Vijayawada Lok Sabha constituency has been a stronghold of Kammas right from the beginning, because of their money power and traditional political influence for several decades – like Chennupati Vidya, Vadde Sobhanadreeshwara Rao, P Upendra, Gadde Rammohan and Lagadapati Rajagopal and now, Kesineni Srinivas alias Nani.
Though majority of the voters in the assembly segments falling under this parliamentary constituencies belong to backward communities, SC, and Kapus, it was Kammas who have been winning the seat constantly.
Even the YSR Congress party experimented with Kammas in the last two Lok Sabha elections – Koneru Rajendra Prasad in 2014 and Prasad V Potluri in 2019. On both the occasions, Telugu Desam Party candidate Kesineni Srinivas alias Nani won the seat.
This time, however, Jagan is said to be contemplating doing an experiment in Vijayawada parliamentary constituency. According to party sources, he is looking for a suitable BC candidate to contest the election.
Apparently, the YSRC supremo is of the view that it would project a new leadership in Vijayawada and would attract the votes of weaker sections, who have not been happy with the domination of upper castes.
“The party will go all out to support this BC candidate,” sources said.
The question, however, is who Jagan will select for the Vijayawada LS seat. Only he can disclose, at an appropriate time.