Devineni U Rao and his cousin Devineni Rajasekhar use bypoll to test their might

Vijayawada: Though the main opposition party, the YSR Congress, is not contesting the Nandigama byelection, the fact remains that the bypoll will have all the drama, intrigue and suspense attached, mainly due to the intense rivalry between two cousins. While the TDP hopes to win the bypoll, led by irrigation minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, his cousin and former minister, Devineni Rajasekhar is leading the Congress camp.

Though the Congress has lost its base following state bifurcation, it hopes to make an impact in the bypoll by fielding local leader B. Babu Rao, who has been handpicked by Mr Rajasekhar. As for the TDP, it has a strong vote bank and active cadre in the segment, besides the sympathy factor as it has fielded Tangirala Soumya, daughter of late MLA Tangirala Prabhakar as its candidate.

Prabhakar had scraped through in the last election, but since the YSRC is not in the race, Ms Soumya can hope for smooth sailing. However, Mr Rajasekhar plans to upset her, and thus prove that he, and not Mr Umamaheswara Rao, is the one from the Devineni family who has the backing of the people. Earlier, Mr Umamahesw-ara Rao’s brother Devineni Venkata Ramana was elected once from the segment, but died in a train accident. Later, Mr Umamaheswara Rao entered politics in his brother’s place. He was also elected twice from Nand-igama, but it was reserved in the SC category later.

Venkata Ramana had broken away from Mr Rajasekhar’s camp after the demise of NTR and supported TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu. Since then, the two cousins had been bitter political rivals. Now, after almost two decades, two cousins from the Devineni family are again pitted against each other, and are testing their strength through their respective party’s candidates, Ms Soumya and Mr Babu Rao.