Eyeing a hattrick from Proddatur, Rachamallu banks on development
YSR Congress Party’s Rachamallu Sivaprasad Reddy, a twotime MLA from Proddatur, eyes a hattrick this time by banking on three parameters.
Locally called the miniMumbai, Proddatur is also known to be the financial capital of Kadapa district, given the presence of a large number of gold outlets, albeit in the unorganised sector.
Mr. Reddy won the seat in 2014 against TDP’s Nandyala Varadarajulu Reddy by 12,945 votes and in 2019 against TDP’s Mallela Linga Reddy by a margin of 45,148 votes, riding the ‘Jagan wave’. Mr. Reddy adopts a threepronged strategy to secure a win for the third time. He banks on the government’s welfare schemes, the developmental projects he brought to his constituency and the rapport he developed with his constituents.
“Right from the COVID19 period until today, I have cared for my people and have benefitted many for their medical and educational needs. I believe this personal touch with my voters resonates well during the elections,” he told The Hindu during his campaign in the Yanadi colony on the outskirts of Proddatur.
Reddys and Muslims account for 40,000 voters each in this constituency, which is known for its urbanrural mix. The weaver community has 60,000 votes, Arya Vysyas have 20,000, and the SCs account for around 20,000.
Mr. Sivaprasad Reddy finds the opposition TDP a ‘divided house’, with three groups calling the shots within the constituency. While the party candidate Varadarajulu Reddy, a veteran, is campaigning aggressively, Linga Reddy, who contested unsuccessfully in 2019, is learnt to be sulking. Meanwhile, the third group is led by G. Praveen Kumar Reddy, who was initially made TDP’s constituency incharge before the party leadership roped Varadarajulu Reddy, who is giving a tough fight at the ripe age of 85.
Mr. Sivaprasad Reddy pins hope on the ₹150 crore drinking water project he brought to Proddatur town and the slew of cement road projects in the outlying colonies.