Telugu Desam Party general secretary and IT minister Nara Lokesh might have felt Mangalagiri assembly constituency in Guntur a safer seat for him, but reports from ground zero indicate that it was rather a risky decision.
Party leaders in Guntur district wonder why TDP president and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has fielded his son from Mangalagiri, instead of another safe seat in Anantapur or Chittoor district.
“Naidu should have fielded his son from Kuppam and he, himself, should have shifted to coastal Andhra, which would also have improved his party’s position in coastal Andhra,” a party leader said.
The situation in Mangalagiri is not so conducive for Lokesh, though the TDP rank and file are struggling hard for his victory.
Reason: YSR Congress party’s sitting MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, who had won with a very meagre majority in 2014, has consolidated his position in the last five years. Especially in the youth, there is a lot of craze for RK.
“He has gained complete control over the rural areas, though in urban areas of Mangalagiri are still with the TDP. If RK can split considerable number of votes in urban areas, he will walk away with the victory,” a local source said.
Apart from traditional Kamma voters, Lokesh is banking on the votes of farmers who had given their lands to Amaravati, as they made big fortunes in the last three years.
He is also hoping that the weavers’ community, which is the deciding factor, will favour the TDP.
In any case, the fight in Mangalagiri is not so easy for Lokesh!