For Anantapur MP Talari Rangaiah, reaching to grassroots would be an extension of his former role as a project director at the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA).

“Approachability was the hallmark of my service. After being elected, you can find me at government offices or the government guest house,” he says, promising people to be available there when Parliament was not in session. Moreover, he said, he would tap as much Central funds as possible for the constituency.

Giving credit to Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s popularity for his victory, Mr. Rangaiah said the previous government had tapped only nine of the 12 schemes under which funds could be used. With ‘Navaratnalu’, the State government would ensure benefit for the poor.

According to data provided by the Chief Planning Officer, 950 projects were given administrative sanction meeting the full entitlement ₹26.16 crore of the Anantapur MP in the past five years. However, only 118 of them were completed at a cost of ₹4.8 crore and another 90 were being undertaken at a cost of ₹4.69 crore. The remaining were either not started or delayed owing to the Model Code of Conduct.

As for his priorities, Mr. Rangaiah said providing drinking water would be at the top followed by health and education. He said making government schools better than private ones would be on his agenda. Moreover, he added, there was a need for proper maintenance at government hospitals.