Move to appease Boyas backfire on TDP

KURNOOL: The Telugu Desam Party is likely to face a major hurdle in Kurnool and Anantapur districts in the forthcoming elections as it has alienated the Boya community which is a major vote bank in 13 constituencies straddling the two districts.
Boyas, who claim to be descendants of Valmiki, constitute 20-25 per cent of the total voters in six Assembly seats in Kurnool and 15-20 per cent in seven seats in Anantapur.
But the community has only one MP Kalva Srinivasulu-Anantapur-TDP) from its ranks.
Boyas have been demanding inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list and special benefits for the poorer groups in the community.
An important dimension is being added to the Boya-TDP equation with G Srinivasulu, a retired DGP of Karnataka and a Boya by caste, planning to join politics.
He is being encouraged to do so by Kurnool MLA T G Venkatesh, the industrialist-turned-MLA who needs support in his feud with with Kurnool MP K E Krishnamurthy (KEK).
With Venkatesh making this move to gain goodwill in the Boya comm unity, Krishnamurthy and minister B V Mohan Reddy rushed to appease Boya elders by fixing an appointment for them with the chief minister on Thursday.
The MP and the minister hoped would that the chief minister would give sops to the Boya leaders but Naidu not only did not hand out any, he also made no commitment to the demands raised by the elders.
Disappointed, the elders made their displeasure known to KEK and Mohan Reddy and declared their resolve to ensure their defeat in the coming elections.
Boyas constitute about 31 per cent of the vote in Mohan Reddy’s Yemmiganuru, 20 per cent in Dhone (represented by minister K E Prabhakar), 21 per cent in Pattikonda (S V Subba Reddy-TDP), 18 per cent in Aluru (M Mareppa-Congress), 18 per cent in Adoni (K Meenakshi Naidu-TDP), 26 per cent in Kodumuru (M Sikhamani-Congress).
All these constituencies fall under the Kurnool Parliament seat, which is represented by Krishnamurthy.
In Anantapur district, Boyas are a big vote bank in Rayadurg, Penugonda, Gooty, Kalyandurg, Uravakonda, Singanamala and Gorantla constituencies.
With the Boya community leaders deciding to work against the TDP, the ruling party will have to face a major problem in the coming elections.