Nellore: Known as the rice bowl of Nellore district, Kovur constituency is famous for paddy and sugarcane cultivation.
Prasanna Kumar Reddy
Moreover it is probably the only area where farmers raise 3 crops per annum making use of canal water as well as groundwater resources through filter points.
Several industries such as Gamesa, BMR feeds and Kisan SEZ have come up in the northern parts of the segment during last five years.
However farming community is not all that happy because the government and sitting legislator Polamreddy Srinivasulu Reddy failed to take any steps to revive the defunct Kovur cooperative sugar factory. The factory is neck deep into debts because of bad management and it could not even take up crushing during last 7 years.
On political side, Kovur constituency was home for stalwarts such as Bezawada Ramachan-dra Reddy, Bezawada Gopal Reddy, Puchalap-alli Sundaraiah, Rebala Dasaradharami Reddy, Bezawada Papi Reddy and Jakka Venkaiah.
As of now the segment has turned as a battle ground for sitting legislator Polamreddy Srini-vasulu Reddy of TD and YSRC nominee Nallapa-reddy Prasanna Kumar Reddy.
While Polamreddy won twice in 2004 and 2014, Prasanna Kumar won three times in 1994, 1999, 2009 besides prestigious by-election in 1993 on behalf of TD after his father’s death and in 2012 on behalf of YSRC after he was disqualified for backing late Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy after elected with TD ticket. Father of Mr Prasanna, Nallapareddy Srinivas-ulu Reddy was elected from the segment in 1983, 1985 and 1989 and his services to the segment are still remembered by the people.
Both Polamreddy and Prasanna are known for their political acumen and devise strategies to turn the any situation in their favour.
Initially Polamreddy had opposition from his own party leader Pell-akuru, who was aspiring for the seat, but TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu had intervened and convinced Pellak-uru to work for the success of Polamreddy. In addition to Prasanna and Polamreddy, Thelap-alli Raghavaiah of Jana Sena, M. Vijayalakshmi of BJP and Ramachan-draiah of Congress are also in the fray for seat. Notwithstanding to the presence of 5 parties in the contest, it is going to be a straight fight betwe-en the old rivals Prasan-na and Polamreddy.
YSRC leaders are confident of Prasanna’s victory in view of the polarization of Reddy votes and backing of minorities and scheduled castes for Jagan. In case of Polamreddy, he is banking on traditional vote for TD and support of large number of BC’s and schedule tribes for the party.
