Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Swords clash between Kesineni brothers in Vijayawada
Vijayawada: Vijayawada parliamentary constituency, which has strategic importance for the development of Andhra Pradesh as a whole, is in dire need of infrastructure development to address the growing urban population, especially after the bifurcation of the state.
One of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh after bifurcation, Vijayawada is urban and semi-urban in nature, and like any urban constituency, it too is facing infrastructure problems.
Now, sitting MP Kesineni Nani, who has joined the YSRC, is facing his brother Kesineni Shivanath (Chinni) of TDP in the electoral battle.
Vijayawada has seven assembly constituencies – Vijayawada East, Vijayawada Central, Vijayawada West and Mylavaram, which are urban, Jaggayyapet and Nandigama are semi-urban, and Tiruvuru has a rural character. Its population is approximately 22,18,591 and total voters in the Lok Sabha constituency are 14,69,858.
Formed in 1952, the first MP from the Vijayawada Lok Sabha seat was Harindernath Chattopadhyay, an independent. He was the younger brother of freedom fighter Sarojini Naidu. After him it was represented by Dr. Komaraju Achamamba of Congress.
In the subsequent three elections, the Lok Sabha seat was represented by K Lakshmana Rao, G Murahari and Chennupati Vidya of the Grand Old Party. Vadde Sobhanadreshwar Rao became the Vijayawada MP for the first time in 1984 on a TDP ticket and in 1991 he again represented the constituency.
From Vijayawada Lok Sabha seat, Parvataneni Upendra of Congress was elected twice, followed by Gadde Rammohan of TDP once and Lagdapati Rajagopal of Congress was elected twice. After him, TDP’s Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) won in 2014 and 2019.
Speaking to TNIE, CPM’s Choudhary Babu Rao, who is contesting from Vijayawada Central Assembly seat, said the issue of Amaravati as the state capital will have a significant impact on the election outcome.
“Apart from sentiment, there is also hope for development and progress in the region. However, this was neglected, resulting in many opportunities being lost for the people of the area,” he said.
Congress leader Kolanukonda Shivaji said the lack of progress on the capital city issue has led to losses in land prices, real estate businesses and construction workers dependent on the realty sector.
Another leader, on condition of anonymity, said that even after a decade of bifurcation, there has been no infrastructure development in the state. “The Inner Ring Road is still under construction, the road network is underdeveloped, the metro rail and proposed waterways remain only on paper,” he said.
A farmer leader said that Vijayawada parliamentary constituency has a higher area and it comes under the ayacut of Nagarjuna Sagar left canal.
“However, farmers face problems due to lack of proper irrigation facility. Farmers have not yet benefited from the Chintalapudi Lift Irrigation Scheme,” he said. Let us tell you that there is no big industry in the Lok Sabha constituency, which was named after former CM NT Rama Rao after the reorganization of the district.
Speaking to TNIE, former Vijayawada mayor Jandhyala Shankar said that although the Vijayawada railway station is an important junction with over 300 trains and significant freight traffic, the facilities at the station cannot be boasted about. “There isn’t even a ramp there,” he said.
Further, he informed that there is no zoological park in Vijayawada, though space is available in Kondapalli. “It will provide much-needed lung space and recreational areas for the people of the area,” he said.
