Venigandla Ramu Vs Kodali Nani: TDP’s NRI philanthropist takes on 4-time YSRCP MLA in Gudivada

Gudivada: With the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leadership fielding an NRI Venigandla Ramu against four-time MLA Kodali Sri Venkateswara Rao aka Kodali Nani of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), the stage is set for a fierce battle in the Gudivada Assembly constituency in the upcoming AP elections.

Since TDP founder and former chief minister Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR) won twice from Gudivada, in 1983 and 1985, Gudivada stands out as a special constituency in Andhra Pradesh. Another noteworthy feature of the constituency is that Kodali Nani had won the last four elections from this particular seat.

Close to CM Jagan

In the 2004 and 2009 Assembly elections, Nani contested on a TDP ticket but switched his loyalties to the YSRCP in 2014 and 2019. He won both elections.

Nani is one of the close associates of chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and even served as the minister for Civil Supplies during the first Cabinet of YS Jagan for three years.

Charity work

Venigandla Ramu was born and brought up in Gudivada. He left for the US in 1999 to pursue his career as a software engineer. Later, he became a prosperous businessman and founded an IT consulting company in the United States. For the past few years, Ramu has been actively involved in politics while performing charitable work in the community through his foundation.

To break Nani’s victory streak in Gudivada, the TDP has focused on Ramu, searching for a new local face to challenge Nani. Ramu has been drawing people’s attention to the Jagan Mohan Reddy government’s ‘anti-people policies and activities’, alleging inadequate development of civic infrastructure, characterising it as Nani’s failure in governance.

Public talk on candidates and parties

Lack of civic infrastructure is a major issue

The lack of proper roads, drainage, irrigation and water infrastructure are some of the problems the locals are dealing with within the constituency.

Paruchuri Murali, a fruit vendor in Gudivada town, told NewsMeter that it’s high time people of the constituency dethrone Kodali Nani in the upcoming elections.

“What developmental initiatives did Kodali Nani undertake in the constituency during his two decades of rule? Nothing at all; after four terms as an MLA, Kodali Nani ought to be able to establish Gudivada as a model constituency for the state, but what has he accomplished? The town is falling behind in every area, including roads, infrastructure, and drainage, and everything is in poor condition,” Murali said.

The fruit seller said that Kodali Nani always does a quick tour of the constituency right before the elections and shows up at a few private gatherings in people’s homes to give the impression that he is always available to them.

“The TDP was in power in the state when Nani was elected as an MLA in the Assembly elections of 2004 and 2009. But Nani betrayed his allegiance to the YSRCP and was victorious in two MLA elections. How many youths in the constituency are employed? People are fed up with Nani’s actions and want to see a complete transformation in the constituency,” Murali said.

‘Kodali Nani will be MLA for the fifth time’

Julakanti Mukunda Rao, a hardware store owner, asserted that Kodali Nani is a leader of the people regardless of one’s political allegiance.

He is always open to the public and actively involved in the community. Nani has been instrumental in implementing many social projects aimed at improving the lives of the town’s poor and downtrodden sections.

Regarding Venigandla Ramu, the TDP candidate, he said his chances of victory are uncertain. He stated that the coalition is likely to suffer from group politics and a lack of cooperation among the TDP, BJP, and Jana Sena cadres. In light of all these reasons, he added that the YSRCP is in a stronger position here, and Nani would win the constituency for a fifth time.

Overview of Gudivada Assembly constituency

Gudivada Assembly constituency is one of the seven Assembly segments of the Machilipatnam Lok Sabha constituency. The constituency was established in 1951, as per the Delimitation Orders. Gudivada, Gudlavalleru and Nandivada are the three mandals under the constituency.

Kodali Nani is the incumbent MLA from the YSRCP. He defeated the TDP candidate Raavi Venkateswara Rao with a majority of 19,479 votes.

As of 2019, there are a total of 2,08,305 electors in the constituency. The majority of voters in this area are from the Backward Classes and the Kapu community. The Gudivada constituency is heavily influenced by Kamma, Muslim, and Dalit voters.