It’s Ganta vs Muttamsetti in Bheemunipatnam
Telugu Desam Party’s Ganta Srinivasa Rao and Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao, popularly known as Avanthi Srinivas, of the YSR Congress Party will battle it out for the Bheemunipatnam Assembly seat in the ensuing elections.
The clash of the two veteran leaders is rated high by cadres of both the parties as they have never lost an election in their over twodecade political career. The TDP cadre had anticipated Mr. Srinivasa Rao’s candidature from Bheemunipatnam Assembly constituency two months ago. However, the party leadership had asked the former Education Minister to contest from Cheepurupalli Assembly constituency in Vizianagaram district. Mr. Srinivasa Rao, however, told the leadership that he was keen on throwing the hat into the ring from either Bheemunipatnam, Chodavaram, or Madugula.
The TDP’s decision comes after the surveys commissioned suggested that Mr. Srinivasa Rao be fielded from Bheemunipatnam. The surveys have pointed out that Mr. Srinivasa Rao has a strong base in the constituency, having represented it in the Legislative Assembly during 201419.
It is interesting to note here that Mr. Srinivasa Rao has never been in the fray twice from any Assembly constituency.
In 1999, Mr. Srinivasa Rao won the Anakapalli Lok Sabha seat on the TDP ticket. In 2004, he won the Chodavaram Assembly seat on behalf of the TDP. After joining the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) in 2009, he emerged victorious from Anakapalli Assembly constituency. In the 2014 elections, he won from Bheemunipatnam. In 2019, despite the YSRCP wave, Mr. Srinivasa Rao won from Visakhapatnam North constituency.