Hyderabad: Industrialist and former MP V. Balashowry of the YSR Congress has the edge over Telugu Desam’s Galla Jayadev in the tough fight for the Guntur parliamentary seat. But the latter is literally burning the midnight oil in an effort to catch up.
The TD has picked up significantly in Guntur compared to 50 days ago when Mr Jayadev, who is from Chittoor, began campaigning in the town. Mr Jayadev has been holding meetings with party leaders that last till 4 am after campaigning ends at 10 pm.
Despite the improvement in the TD’s fortunes, it may not be good enough to win the seat from the YSRC’s crorepati candidate. Going against Mr Jayadev are his non-local status and his late entry into the fray.
The YSRC has a strong presence in three segments, namely Mangalagiri, Guntur East and Prattipadu and this goes in favour of Mr Balashowry. In Tenali, Ponnur and Guntur West, it’s an equal fight. Out of seven Assembly segments in the Guntur Parliamentary constituency, the YSRC is weak in Tadikonda. The promise to waive loans taken for crops is working in the TD’s favour among farmers.
Likely cross-voting of the Kapu community in certain constituencies such as Guntur West, and Tenali may also help Mr Balashowry.
M. Anjaneyulu, a Kapu and resident of Guntur West, says, “Though we are voting for Kanna Lakshminarayana in Guntur West, we will be voting for Balashowry for MP. Elsewhere in the Parliamentary constituency Kapus are voting for the TD MLA candidates are voting for Balashowry for MP.”
However, it may not be all smooth for the YSRC candidate. Complicating matters for Mr Balashowry and Mr Jayadev is the Congress candidate, Mr Shaik Abdul Waheed, a Dubai-returned NRI and bowling champion who is on a gruelling campaign to divide the Muslim vote. The Indian Christian Secular Party candidate M. Udai Kumar could also take a few thousand YSRC votes.
Mr Balashowry says that the recent campaigns by Narendra Modi and Sonia Gandhi in Guntur have been handy for him and his majority has increased by 10 per cent.
“The minority vote got consolidated for me due to Mr Modi’s visit, and United Andhra supporters also turned in favour of the YSRC due to Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s meeting. Out of seven segments, we are sitting pretty in six segments. People who benefited from YSR’s schemes are going to vote for me. Mr Naidu is giving false promises about the loan waiver,” says Mr Balashowry.
However, TD candidate Mr Galla Jayadev doesn’t agree with Mr Balashowry’s assessment.
“Though I have entered the fray late, my internal survey shows that we have improved tremendously. I am promising a job to each household in Guntur town and it is working well for me. The promises of farm loan waiver and nine-hour power supply are also working in favour of the TD,” he said.
Asked if the caste dynamics will favour Mr Balashowry, the TD MP nominee said, “I am not playing any caste card. My focus is what I want to do as an MP in this constituency to create jobs, debate in Parliament and voice public issues. We are strongly placed in all seven Assembly segments. My closest rival, Mr Balashowry, stays most of the time in Delhi and has done little for Guntur.”
