Political parties generally have vote banks, but in Rayalaseema, individual politicians have loyal followers.
Several prominent politicians from Kurnool have switched sides over the last few months, but their vote banks remain intact. People in the district say they vote for politicians and not the parties.
Kurnool has seen several political heavyweights change their political colours over the years, and more so in the last few months after the announcement to bifurcate the state.
An exodus of Congress leaders and former ministers like T.G. Venkatesh, Erasu Pratap Reddy etc. has almost wiped out the party.
When asked about his decision to switch sides, Mr Venkatesh said, “Chandrababu Naidu invited many people to join the Telugu Desam. He is the one who can develop the state. Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, meanwhile, has many problems of his own to deal with.” He thinks he has a very good chance of winning the Kurnool Assembly segment again.
Shilpa Mohan Reddy, a former Congress minister, is now representing the YSRC here.
Several other leaders too have switched sides. Nandyal Assembly YSRC candidate and his deceased wife B. Shobha Nagi Reddy were the members of TD and Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam before joining the YSRC.
Shobha’s brother S.V. Mohan Reddy also was in the Telugu Desam and the Congress, before joining the YSR Congress.
He is now contesting from Kurnool.
In most pockets of the district, people believe in leaders more than parties. G. Mohan, resident of Allagadda said, “Leaders change parties when they don’t get the recognition in the party that they want. But we vote for the candidates, not parties. We know our leaders.”
In Kurnool town, both the TD and YSRC have had held talks with Muslim leaders for their support. Both parties claim to have their support.
An aide of Union minister for state for Railways and Congress candidate from Kurnool Kotla Jaya Surya Prakash Reddy said, “They might claim whatever they want, but there will be no split in our minority votes.”
Changing parties doesn’t affect the candidates’ vote banks.
“Our vote bank has been constant over the last three elections. We are looking at just strengthening our cadre,” a close aide of a Telugu Desam leader, who had earlier won on a Congress ticket, said.
