Political novices cross swords in Anakapalli

Anakapalli

: In the past three decades, the ‘Jaggery bowl’ of AP in the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) limits has always witnessed fights among Gavara, Kapu and Koppula Velama candidates and the bastion for TDP. This time, two political

novices

are crossing swords after many years.

Adari Anand, the son of Visakha Dairy Chairman Adari Tulasi Rao, will be contesting on TDP ticket, while the famous doctor in Anakapalli town, Satyavathi is ready for a fight on the

YSRC

ticket. Interestingly, Dr. Satyavathi and her doctor husband Vishnu Murthy were in the TDP till February, this year. When the TDP did not provide her the ticket, they shifted to the YSRC.

The TDP candidate’s main strength lies on his father Tulasi Rao, the senior most leader of the party in the district and his contacts.

Tulasi Rao has been continuing as the chairman for Visakha Dairy in the past three decades. The dairy has around 10,000 farmers in each assembly segment in the Anakapalli Lok Sabha, irrespective of cast and religion and parties. The dairy has constructed bridges in many villages, conducted medical camps and continued medical assistance to its farmers and their families. Tulasi Rao’s contacts and services would pave the way for Anand’s victory. But Dr. Satyavathi is a well-known doctor in Anakapalli and its surrounding areas with financially sound position. Largely she remained confined to Anakapalli only, while the image of Anand’s father and contacts spread to North Coastal Andhra. Dr. Satyavathi’s image and YSRC banner may create sensation, sources said.

Kapus and Velamas would play key role in the victory of the candidate from the Lok Sabha constituency and there would be split of votes of Gavara community as both the first timers belong to the same community.

According to sources, Kapus are major community in Anakapalli, Yalamanchili, Payakaraopeta, Pendurthi and Chodavaram assembly segments that have around four lakh voters.