Pulivendula remained YSR family’s bastion from 1978 till today. The family never lost an election after it entered the fray from here. While Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy won six times from here, his wife Y.S. Vijayamma, and son Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, founder of YSR Congress Party, won once each. The TDP could never succeed in making inroads here until it successfully brought irrigation water from Gandikota to the backward Pulivendula.
The constituency comprises of Simhadripuram, Lingala, Vempalli, Vemula, Thondur, Pulivendula and Chakrayapet mandals. Sweet lime, orange and plantain are extensively grown here, while betel leaves are exclusive to Vempalle and Chakrayapet mandals. It is precisely the reason why TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu often promises to develop Pulivendula into a horticultural hub and expose the produce to global market.
Water, the contentious issue
Aiming to breach Mr. Jagan’s thumping winning margin, the TDP took extensive effort to bring irrigation water to the hitherto untouched areas of the segment. Party candidate and Deputy Chairman of Legislative Council S.V. Satish Kumar Reddy left no stone unturned to bring water to the parched lands. He even took a ‘deeksha’ by growing a long beard, which he shaved only after seeing the farmers elated on feeling water in their fields.
Though water did reach Lingala, Simhadripuram and Pulivendula mandals, hardcore YSRCP supporters point out that 85% of the canal was dug during the YSR regime and the present government only took it to the logical end.
Poll pundits feel that the verdict of neutral voters, with no prejudice towards either party, matters a lot in this issue. Though water might not totally tilt the balance in TDP’s favour, the party hopes to reduce Mr. Jagan’s winning margin. A section of voters personally admires Mr. Satish Reddy, if not the TDP, for his serious effort.
“I am getting unbelievable support from booths where we had to be content with double-digit votes. We are winning this time,” Mr. Satish Reddy exudes confidence.
Bridge
Another major issue is the decades-old demand for a bridge across Chitravati river connecting Vempalle to Alireddyapalle and Thuvvapalle villages, which used to remain disconnected during the monsoon. While Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy secured the Centre’s nod by directly writing to Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, even Satish Reddy brought a G.O. issued by the State for the bridge.
Though the work has not started, the seriousness evinced by the two parties clearly shows that it indeed is an “election issue”.