YSRCP bets on woman power in crucial seats

Vijayawada: The ruling YSRCP has put up woman candidates against three key leaders of the NDA alliance — Pawan Kalyan, Nara Lokesh, and Nandamuri Balakrishna — for the assembly elections in the state. While sitting Kakinada MP Vanga Geetha is taking on Pawan at Pithapuram in East Godavari district, Murugudu Lavanya is contesting against TDP national general secretary Lokesh at Mangalagiri in Guntur district. Kuruba Deepika, a young professor, is challenging Balakrishna, the son of TDP founding president and former chief minister NTR at Hindupur in Sri Satya Sai district.

Though a political novice, Deepika is confident of defeating Balakrishna, a two-time legislator. “Accessibility is a key issue. Despite winning twice, Balakrishna neglected development. I have been with people for the past 11 months after party chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy named me as the candidate,” she said. She has also readied a manifesto for Hindupur’s overall development along with the YSRCP govt’s various welfare programmes. “Over 60% of welfare scheme beneficiaries are women. I want to develop an industrial zone along with an IT park in Hindupur, which has potential to become an IT hub as it is also close to Bengaluru international airport,” she said, adding that development of roads and drains are on top of her agenda. Deepika belongs to Kuruba, a BC community, while Balakrishna is from the Kamma community.In Pithapuram, veteran leader Geetha is hoping to give a tough fight to Pawan. “He might be a big film star. I am not worried about his glamour as I am the people’s star,” she said. Geetha served as Rajya Sabha member, ZP chairperson, and legislator from Pithapuram before getting elected as MP from Kakinada in 2019. “Being a big movie star, Pawan can draw crowds as fans would be eager to catch a glimpse of their favourite star. But the crowds are much bigger at chief minister Jagan’s meetings. Jagan is the real hero while Pawan is reel hero,” she added.Lavanya, who is contesting from Mangalagiri, comes from a political family. Her father-in-law, Hanumantha Rao, is a sitting MLC and has been a cabinet minister. Her mother, Kandru Kamala, represented Mangalagiri in the past.“Lokesh lost last time and is trying to garner sympathy vote. This will not work as people want development,” said Lavanya, who hails from the weavers’ community. “I am a local child. I will be accessible to people 24/7,” she added.
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