Former TDP MLA from Vishakapatnam North constituency Ghanta Srinivasa Rao is likely to be fielded against prominent YSRCP leader and the current education minister Botsa Satyanarayana in the upcoming assembly elections of Andhra Pradesh.
If the ongoing reports in political circles are to be believed, Ghanta Srinivasa is going to change his constituency for the sixth time in a row ever since his political entry in 1999. TDP supremo Chandra Babu Naidu is said to have assured him an MLA ticket from Cheepurupalli constituency, a strong fortress of Botsa Satyanarayana where he won three out of four times since 2004.
Only in 2014 was Botsa defeated there with a solid majority. That too when he was in the Congress party. In 2019 under the YSRCP flag, he made a strong comeback with a 26000 majority against the TDP-backed Kimidi Nagarjuna, son of former MLA Kimidi Mrunalini who defeated Botsa in 2014.
Botsa is a very strong Kapu leader who holds significant clout in Vizianagaram district. He contested successfully from Cheepurupalli in 2004, 2009, and 2019. So, Chandra Babu wants to field a very strong leader who can challenge Botsa in all aspects. The majority of the voters in this constituency belong to the Kapu community.
Ghanta Srinivasa Rao also hails from the same community and also belongs to the Uttarandhra region. He commands a strong track record as he won from five different constituencies in the last five elections from different parties. So, he will be a strong opponent who can disturb Botsa’s chances to a great extent.
Cheepurupalli was once a strong bastion for the Telugu Desam Party. Since the inception of the party in 1983 and till 1999, all participants won here quite decisively. Only with the entry of Botsa Satyanarayana in 2004 did alter the fortunes of TDP.
Now, if Ghanta Srinivasa Rao is pitched against Botsa Satyanarayana in this popular constituency, it is going to be a keenly contested poll. It will be a Kapu vs Kapu fight.
Meanwhile, there is a another rumour that Botsa might be shifted from Cheepurupalli to Bheemili constituency. Even if he relocates to Bheemili, TDP wants to field Ghanta against him there. So, it would be interesting to see which constituency will see this much anticipated battle between two Kapu heavyweights.
Coincidentally, Ghanta Srinivasa also served as a Education Minister during TDP’s tenure.