A youngster performing a wheelie holding the blue-white-green flag of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) reminded us that we have reached the right destination. A few kilometres inside the town, a car zipped across blasting off the popular song “Ravali Jagan, Kavali Jagan’ which was the most viewed political song this election season on Youtube. The election campaign has ended but the town with a population of about a lakh people is reeling under the hangover. Here, the names of former chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and his son, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy have a prefix—mana, which means our own. This is Pulivendula, a bastion of the YSR family for decades.
“There was a time when people working for Telugu Desam Party (TDP) were not given water to drink by locals. Nobody dared to hold a flag of non-congress parties as they feared they would be boycotted,” said a local politician. in this constituency, people are so fiercely loyal that after Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy formed his own party quitting the Congress, the entire chunk of supporters and sympathisers of the Congress switched loyalties and rallied behind the YSR family. They wait in anticipation as they want their 'boy' to head Andhra Pradesh.
For most part of the last 30 years, chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh have either come from Kuppam or Pulivendula constituencies. Both these constituencies are in different corners of the land-locked Rayalaseema region of the state. Kuppam, represented by current Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, has a completely different character. This assembly constituency is uniquely located. There is every chance that a first-time visitor to the town would get confused after interacting with the locals. This constituency shares its borders with three states, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Here, people can speak Kannada and Tamil with as much ease as they can speak Telugu.
A quick tour of Kuppam and its surrounding villages gives a feeling that it is quite insulated from the hectic political activity witnessed across the state. Contrary to Pulivendula, it is tough to capture any visible signs that suggests that it is a stronghold of Naidu. But the locals do have a great respect for their leader. “We are used to voting for our leader, Chandrababu Naidu. People of this region are content and peaceful. We do not have many complaints. We are happy with his leadership,” said R. Lakshmamma, working in her fields in Kamathuru village on the outskirts of Kuppam town.
A large number of employees and skilled labour in Kuppam relate themselves more to Bengaluru than Hyderabad or Vijayawada as the Karanataka capital is only two hours by train. “Thanks to Chandrababu Naidu, we have super-fast trains between Kuppam and Bengaluru in the mornings and evenings. Most of my weekdays are spent in Bengaluru,” said K. Venu, who said he is not interested in local politics.
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A unique tradition is followed by local TDP leaders every time during elections. Chandrababu Naidu doesn’t file his nomination but his party men do. Before that they collect donation for canvassing and to pay fee for filing nomination. This year the collected donation amount was Rs 25 lakhs. Are there no serious challengers for Naidu in the last three decades? The answer is almost a yes. Though Naidu visits the constituency once a year or two, he is firmly in control of the local affairs.
“This time it will be different,” said BJP candidate Tulasiram, “His majority will decrease greatly compared to last year. What you see are only cosmetic changes. If my party provides me with adequate resources, I can defeat him. People in this area are very mild and submissive that is why you don’t see them questioning him even though employment rate is high.”
After crossing jasmine and rose farms, which the area is famous for, one reaches Chinabangarunagtham, a village filled with fishermen. Here, Vajravelu and a couple of others raised a banner of rebellion and declared support to YSR Congress Party because of which he says he is being discriminated by TDP supporters. “Chandrababu may win but the number of people supporting fan (symbol of YSRCP) are increasing,” he said.
His words match with Bharat, son of YSRCP candidate and former IAS officer, Chandramouli. Ever since his father fell sick, Bharat has taken the responsibility of campaigning for his father. “We will spring a surprise. You will see that,” he said.
It is no mean task to take on political giants like Chandrababu or Jagan. In Pulivendula aggression prevails over everything. The area and its surroundings are known for violent factional politics. Though Jagan is not a regular to this constituency, the family members take care of local affairs and make sure that their supporters stick to them.
Here, the chief minister aspirant Jagan’s candidature is being challenged by Satish Reddy of TDP. He is no newbie to the local politics as he had contested against Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in the past.
According to TDP leaders, the town is completely in favour of YSRCP but they are slowly making inroads into the surrounding villages. In one such village, Gunakanpally, THE WEEK managed to talk to Reddy. He was critical of Jagan and his style of functioning. “What has he done for this constituency? He is not accessible to the people. We brought water to Pulivendula. I challenged that I won't shave my beard till I bring water to this constituency and I fulfilled my promise. We will win this time because of the various welfare schemes introduced by Naidu. At ground level, support for TDP is swelling and we can see that.”
However, issues aside, the sentiment in the constituency is clear that late CM YSR is an emotion here and Jagan, his true successor.
In about a month from now, one of these two constituencies will send the next chief minister to the state of Andhra Pradesh.
