Machilipatnam: YSRCP’s Gen Z leader Perni Kittu faces tough ask from TDP veteran Ravindra

Machilipatnam: Call it a generational shift, a 27-year-old leader from the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has taken on a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) veteran who is contesting from the Machilipatnam Assembly constituency of Krishna district for the fourth time.

Perni Venkata Sai Krishna Murthy aka Perni Kittu, who holds a strong political family background in Machilipatnam, is taking on 52-year-old Kollu Ravindra who has been representing the constituency since 2009.

Perni Kittu is the son of former minister Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani) and grandson of former MLA Perni Krishna Murthy. In the 2019 Assembly elections, Perni Nani defeated TDP candidate Kollu Ravindra.

Incumbent MLA’s son to contest from Machilipatnam

A close associate of the chief minister, Perni Nani served as the Minister for I&PR and transport in YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s first cabinet for three years. Almost a year ago, Nani announced to stay away from direct politics due to his reasons.

Nani recommended his son Perni Kittu as a candidate from Machilipatnam. TDP did not change its candidate and once again gave a chance to Kollu Ravindra from Machilipatnam in the forthcoming elections.

Public talk on candidates and parties

Perni family indispensable part of Machilipatnam. Ch Arjun Rao, a tailor and resident of Godugupeta told NewsMeter that since the Perni family has been available to the public for so long, they are an indispensable part of Machilipatnam. Be it, Perni Krishna Murthy or Perni Nani, now the third generation Perni Kittu knows the public pulse. Through the door-to-door campaign, Perni Nani and his son visited people in the constituency to resolve their grievances.

On Perni Kittu's prospects of winning the seat, he said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, he had been instrumental in providing medication and engaging in community-focused initiatives. Perni Kittu became popular after he helped people from many walks of life when they were going through a difficult phase, he said.

The major achievement of Perni Nani as an MLA was starting work for Machilipatnam Port. The ongoing works are going at a brisk pace once the port becomes operational. it would provide livelihood for scores of people which would also be a value-added factor for Perni Kittu’s victory in the constituency, he said.

People vexed with the YSRCP; Kollu’s victory is unstoppable

People are upset with the YSRCP leadership in the state and the Perni family's behavior in the constituency, according to Ganta Suresh Babu, owner of a confectionery in the town.

The root cause of all of this is a lack of development. The town was frequently flooded during the monsoon season as a result of a subpar drainage system. Plus numerous roads within the constituency are in poor condition.

Rather than making grandiose promises, the incumbent MLA and his son Perni Kittu should reveal the truth about the progress they have made for Machilipatnam over the past five years. When asked about Kollu Ravindra's prospects of becoming an MLA, he responded that the latter is cool-headed and honorable and has never engaged in controversy.

Kollu Ravindra would benefit more from the TDP-Jana Sena-BJP coalition, and his win in the constituency is inevitable given that the populace is likewise eager for change, he added.

Focus on drinking water and irrigation problems in Machilipatnam

Sankabattula Anjaneyulu, a farmer said that even though the perennial Krishna River flows through the constituency year-round, people are still facing problems relating to drinking water and irrigation. The YSRCP government had planned to construct barrages downstream of the Prakasam Barrage, but they are yet to see the light of the day.

Drinking water is currently provided to Machilipatnam town once every two to three days. On the other hand, the tail-end land under the Bandar Canal does not get water for irrigation. “I have witnessed the administration of both the TDP and the YSRCP governments. The leaders make tall claims during the elections. But implementation remains the issue. The party which wins the Machilipatnam constituency should focus on drinking water and irrigation apart from focusing on development and welfare,” he said.

Overview of Machilipatnam Assembly constituency

Machilipatnam is one of the seven assembly segments of the Machilipatnam Lok Sabha constituency. The constituency was established in 2008. As per the Delimitation Order (2008). Machilipatnam is the only mandal that forms the assembly constituency.

As of 2019, there are a total of 184,506 electors in the constituency. Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani) won as an MLA from the constituency. He defeated TDP candidate Kollu Ravindra with a majority of 5,932 votes. Jana Sena candidate Bandi Ramakrishna secured 18,807 votes out of the total votes polled in the constituency.

The Congress won six times from the constituency, followed by the TDP which won four times, independents won twice and the YSRCP won once. Kollipara Venkata Ramanaiah Naidu, Pedasingu Lakshman Rao, Perni Krishna Murthy, Ambati Brahamaniah, and N Narasimha Rao are renowned leaders representing the constituency.