Annamayya District Revamp Alters Regional Political Equations
Redrawing of district and constituency boundaries is likely to weaken the consolidated political influence enjoyed by the Peddireddy family in the region
TIRUPATI: The reorganisation of Annamayya district has triggered fresh discussion in political circles, with many seeing a calculated move by the ruling Telugu Desam party ahead of the 2029 general elections.
Political observers say the changes directly affect the regional influence of senior YSR Congress leader Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, whose family has held sway in Rayalaseema and neighbouring constituencies for more than three decades.
Annamayya district was created by carving out areas from the erstwhile Chittoor and Kadapa districts during the previous YSRC government. Over successive elections, the Peddireddy family strengthened its political presence across these regions. Ramachandra Reddy won the Piler and Punganur assembly constituencies seven times, his son PV Mithun Reddy was elected thrice from the Rajampet Lok Sabha constituency, and his brother Peddireddy Dwarakanath Reddy won the Thamballapalle assembly seat twice.
After Annamayya district was formed, it emerged as a strong political unit centered around Punganur, Thamballapalle and the Rajampet parliamentary constituency. With these Assembly and Lok Sabha segments falling within one district, the Peddireddy family gained organisational and political strength, particularly after the YSRC came to power in 2019.
The political rivalry between chief minister Chandrababu Naidu and Ramachandra Reddy has its roots in the undivided Chittoor district. While Naidu built his political career from Kuppam and rose to repeatedy become chief minister, Peddireddy grew into a strong state-level leader with influence across Rayalaseema and neighbouring areas.
Following the YSRC’s rise to power in 2019, Peddireddy made attempts to expand his influence into Kuppam, Naidu’s long-standing stronghold. This was reflected in local body election results, which changed the political atmosphere in the constituency and created challenges for the TD. However, the YSRC could not unseat Naidu, who has represented Kuppam for nine consecutive terms.
After Naidu returned to power in 2024 at the head of an alliance government, focus shifted to Peddireddy’s political standing. Along with probes into alleged irregularities linked to the previous YSRC administration, the government initiated administrative changes that altered district and constituency boundaries.
Under the reorganisation, the Rajampet assembly segment was moved back to YSR Kadapa district and Railway Kodur was shifted to Tirupati district, while Punganur and Thamballapalle remained in Annamayya district. The district headquarters was relocated from Rayachoti to Madanapalle, in keeping with an earlier assurance given by Naidu.
Political analysts say these changes are likely to reduce the district-level influence of the Peddireddy family.
With the assembly segments of the Rajampet LS constituency now spread across three districts, the earlier advantage of a unified political base is expected to weaken. Observers believe the reorganisation could change electoral calculations, create room for new leadership and alter political equations in the region.