Vijayawada
This time, the opposition Telugu Desam and the ruling YSR Congress focused on the assembly constituencies whose candidates had won the previous election by slim margins, between 5,000 and 10,000. The YSRC is hoping that by implementing welfare and development programs during the last five years, it will be able to get more votes and win these seats. Telugu Desam believes it can win these seats as well because of its Super Six program, alliance power, and “anti-incumbency” feelings against the YSRC.
Twelve assembly constituencies reported winning with a margin of less than 5,000, while 22 had a margin of less than 10,000, 35 had a margin of between 10,000 and 20,000, and 82 had a margin of more than 20,000. In the 2019 elections, the Vijayawada Central constituency had the smallest majority—25 votes—followed by Tirupati, who received 708 votes; Ponnur, 1,112 votes; Tanuku, 2,195; Nagari, 2,708 votes; Nellore City, 2988; Kothapeta, 4,038, Eluru, 4,072, Yelamachili, 4,146; Tadikonda (SC) 4,083, Prathipadu, 4,611 and Jaggayapet, 4,778 votes.
In a similar vein, the assembly constituencies of Ramachandrapuram, Mangalagiri, Kurnool, Mummidivaram, Srikakulam, Machilipatnam, Vizianagaram, Narasapuram, Prathipadu (SC), Tadipatri, Vijayawada West, Pedana, Peeleru, Anakapalli, Chilakaluripet, Bobbili, Bhimavaram, Kakinada Rural, Santanutalapadu, Kaikaluru, Bheemili, and Vemuru (SC) assembly constituencies previously recorded a majority of less than 10,000 votes. Additionally, a majority of 10,000 to 20,000 votes were registered by almost three dozen assembly segments, including Tiruvur, Nandigama, Penamalur, Srungavarapukota, Adoni, Mylavaram, and others.
Kakinada City, Kavali, Kandukur, Pithapuram, Penukonda, Bapatla, Pathapatnam, Dharmavaram, Nuzividu, Palasa, V. Madugula, Tadepalligudem, Gajuwaka, Rajam (SC), Dendulur, Tenali, Palakonda (ST), Markapuram, Etcherla, Gudivada, Narasannapet, and Kalyandurgam are among the places that fall under this category. Three years ago, the YSRC high command, headed by chief minister and party president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, began focusing on these low majority segments. They conducted welfare and development initiatives, sent legislators and other party leaders to every house under Gadapa Gadapaku Mana Prabhutvam, and organized additional mass interaction programs.
Jagan Reddy redesigned the candidates in numerous constituencies this time around after evaluating the performance of the current MLAs. For example, Malladi Vishnu, the MLA for Vijayawada Central, was not given the ticket because of his unsatisfactory performance. Vellampalli Srinivas, a former minister and MLA for Vijayawada West, gave a subpar performance. As a result, Jagan Reddy moved Srinivas to the Vijayawada Central seat and awarded minority leader Sk Asif the ticket for Vijayawada West. Because of their welfare and development programs in these areas, the leaders of the YSRC were optimistic that they would win the low majority assembly seats this time by significant proportions. Citing the huge increase in voting percentages this time, these leaders claimed that welfare sops reached all including activists of the Opposition parties and they too were happy with the YSRC government.
Its leaders assert, “Therefore, a repeat of the 2019 victory for the YSRC this time too would result from the high voter turnout.” Not to be outdone, TD focused on these low-margin assembly segments as well and formed specific strategic teams to use the Super Six manifesto to woo voters to the party. The general populace of TD is optimistic that the BJP-JS combination will boost the proportion of votes cast for their candidates and win the 2024 elections. TD leaders asserted that the NDA would receive more than 50% of the vote overall in the AP this time, and that the alliance led by TD would easily win the June 4 polls and establish the next ministry.
