Vijayawada East: TDP MLA Ramamohan eyes hat-trick, but YSRCP’s Avinash makes his presence felt

Vijayawada: Sitting Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLA Gadde Ramamohan is facing a formidable challenge from YSRCP’s Devineni Avinash in the Vijayawada East constituency this time round.

A two-time MLA, Gadde Ramamohan is up against YSRCP’s Devineni Avinash who has been very active on the ground. The constituency comprises voters from varying socioeconomic backgrounds. Moreover, Avinash’s late father and former minister Devineni Rajasekhar Nehru was a prominent player in Vijayawada politics.

Gadde will secure a hat-trick victory

B Hari Krishna, a daily wage laborer, vouched that the sitting MLA Gadde Ramamohan will undoubtedly score the hat-trick. “I was involved in an accident at Benz Circle two years ago and I could not resume my work for a month. After being informed of my medical condition. I received Rs 50,000 for my treatment from the MLA's trust," he said.

Hari Krishna noted that Chandranna Bhima was introduced under the TDP government to assist the working class in the unorganized sector. The plan was abandoned after the YSRCP came to power, severely hurting the working class.

Asked about YSRCP's welfare programs, he replied that although his daughter got Amma Vodi twice, she did not receive financial support the previous year.

“When we petitioned the officials, they stated that my kid would not be eligible for the scheme because my electricity bills were higher than allowed. How is it possible for the government to suddenly exclude us from the program? For the interest of the working class and impoverished, the TDP should be voted back to power in the state and Gadde Ramamohan in Vijayawada East,” he stated.

Avinash instrumental in infra-development

Y Chinna Rao, a resident of Krishna Lanka, said Devineni Avinash has always come to the rescue of the people of this constituency, even though TDP candidate Gade Ramamohan Rao was elected representative here.

“For example, over the years, between 30,000 and 40,000 people have been forced to evacuate from Krishna Lanka and adjacent habitats to rehabilitation centers because their houses were inundated by flood waters in the Krishna River and there was no flood protection retaining wall in place," he said.

“Soon after coming to power, the YSRCP sanctioned Rs 125 crore to construct the retaining wall which the locals have been demanding for more than a decade. Recently, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurated the 2.26-km-long retaining wall constructed along River Krishna at the Kanaka Durga Varadhi. Apart from that, Jagan also inaugurated a riverfront view park in the constituency to provide a pleasant ambiance to the residents," he added.

Apart from the infrastructural development including providing house-sites for eligible poor, roads, and drains, Avinash also focused on welfare not only through government schemes; the latter also spent money from his trust for the upliftment of women, youth, and elderly people in the constituency, he opined.

YSRCP has an advantage due to its various welfare schemes

Roadside vendor D Vijayalakshmi said YSRCP has an advantage because of its numerous welfare schemes. "Whatever development you see happened during the YSRCP government. Amma Vodi, YSR Cheyuta, and YSR EBC Nestam empowered the women. Under YSR Cheyuta, I have received Rs 18,750 for two consecutive years which helped me to expand my business,” she said.

Asked about the chances of sitting MLA, Vijayalakshmi responded that Gadde Ramamohan was a decent man who had been elected twice from the constituency. However, for reasons that are yet unclear, the MLA distanced himself from the public after winning the election in 2019. She said that the political scenario in the constituency has changed in favor of the YSRCP in the last two years.

Avinash would be allowed to serve as an MLA as the voters have given Gadde Ramamohan a chance twice. Avinash is approachable and has gone door-to-door to gather information about the issues facing the constituency, she added.

Overview of Vijayawada East Constituency

Vijayawada East is one of the seven assembly segments of the Vijayawada Lok Sabha constituency. It consists of Vijayawada Urban (partial) and Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (Ward No. 32, 36 to 41, 45 to 48, and 50 to 74).

As of 2019, there are a total of 275,655 electors in the constituency. Vijayawada East constituency has a sizable population of Kamma and Kapu voters. In the 2019 Assembly elections, TDP candidate Gadde Ramamohan Rao won the seat for the second time. He defeated YSRCP candidate Boppana Bhavakumar by securing 44.4 percent votes out of the votes polled.

While Janasena Party candidate Battina Ramu secured 16.12 percent vote share. Congress has won this seat seven times in 1967, 1972, 1978, 1985, 1989, 1994 and 2004. TDP won it thrice in 1983, 2014, and 2019. , Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won once in 1999 and Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) in 2009.

Renowned politicians Nadendla Bhaskar Rao, Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga, his wife Vangaveeti Ratna Kumari, and their son Vangaveeti Radha Krishna, Adusumilli Jai Prakash Rao, and veteran actor Kota Srinivasa Rao were elected as MLA from the constituency.