Vijayawada: It will be BC voters who will decide the winner in Mylavaram Assembly segment, where arch rivals Telugu Desam and YSR Congress are locked in a fierce contest.
The constituency has over 1.20 lakh BC voters who had elected minister for water resources D. Uma Maheswara Rao three consecutive times.
This time, Mr Uma Maheswara Rao is facing YSRC’s Vasantha Krishna Prasad and the Jana Sena has fielded A. Mohan Rao.
The YSRC announced Mr Prasad as its candidate six months ago and he had got down to work immediately, trying to get the support of all communities and trounce the minister.
The other major community blocks in the constituency are the 40,000 Kamma voters, another 40,000 SCs, 25,000 Kapus and 16,000 Reddy voters.
Mr Uma Maheswara Rao had won from the seat four times and had defeated his present rival Mr Prasad in 1999 and also Mr Prasad's father Vasantha Nageswara Rao in 2004 in Nandigama Assembly constituency.
Later Nandigama was deemed a reserved constituency forcing Mr Uma Maheswara Rao to shift to Mylavaram in 2009. In 2014, he defeated YSRC candidate Jogi Ramesh.
Mr Uma Maheswara Rao belongs to a political family as his brother and relatives are closely associated with the TD.
He worked for the sanction and construction of 23 lift irrigation schemes in the constituency to supply irrigation water to farmers through Sagar canal and strengthened the TD cadre. Mr Uma Maheswara Rao claimed that schemes like the Chandranna Bima, housing, pensions and others were extended to all the eligible without bias and expressed confidence that this will help him win.
Mr Prasad’s father Nageswara Rao earlier had served as a minister and had good relations in Mylavaram constituency.
Mr Prasad, an industrialist, has maintained good relations in every village. He is highlighting the allegations of corruption and irregularities, especially regarding sand mining and is trying to attract the voters.
Mr Prasad claims that despite being a minister, Mr Uma Maheswara Rao has failed to fulfil his promises and develop the constituency.
He expressed confidence that corruption and irregularities would pave the way for YSRC victory.
Mr Mohan Rao is trying his best to make this a triangular contest and hopes that split of votes will help him. He is banking on the party’s promise of clean politics and the charisma of its chief, Pawan Kalyan.
The JS chief has already addressed a public meeting in Mylavaram and got good response.
