This story is from March 21, 2019

Andhra Pradesh elections: Old rivals to lock horns again in 7 assembly segments

Andhra Pradesh elections: Old rivals to lock horns again in 7 assembly segments
TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, YSRCP chief Jaganmohan Reddy, Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan.
VISAKHAPATNAM: Seven of the total 15 assembly constituencies in Visakhapatnam district are going to witness a keen fight in 2019 elections among the old rivals of TDP, YSRC and Jana Sena, who had contested in the 2014 elections.
While the YSRC has changed their candidates in nine assembly segments, TDP changed their candidates in five assembly segments this time.
Of the total 15 assembly seats in Vizag district, TDP has fielded 12 sitting MLAs as their candidates with some changes.
The YSRC fielded only one sitting MLA in the same constituency.
In seven assembly segments like Visakha South, Visakha West, Gajuwaka, Chodavaram, Narsipatnam, V Madugula and Paderu, the major fight for the 2019 elections is among the old rivals who were fielded in the same constituencies for the previous elections.
Visakha South Assembly seat is witnessing a third time fight between sitting MLA of TDP, Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar and his all-time rival Dronamraju Srinivasa Rao of YSRC. In 2009, Srinivasa Rao of Congress won with 341 vote’s margin by defeating Kolla Guruvulu of PRP and Vasupalli of TDP.
In the 2014 elections, Vasupalli won the seat by beating Dronamraju of Congress and Guruvullu of YSRC. Now this time, Dronamraju is contesting on YSRC ticket with the hope to defeat his all-time rival Vasupalli.

The Visakha West seat is all set to witness fight between PVGR Naidu (Ganababu) of TDP and Malla Vijaya Prasad of YSRC. Malla on YSRC ticket won in 2009 elections by defeating Ganababu of TDP. In 2014, Malla didn’t contest the elections.
Though there is fight between Palla Srinivasa Rao of TDP and Tippala Nagi Reddy of YSRC for Gajuwaka assembly seat in 2019 elections, JSR’s chief Pawan Kalyan, who is contesting from Gajuwaka, is all set to defeat the duo. Palla defeated Reddy with over 21,700 margin votes in 2014.
Narsipatnm seat is witnessing fight between Minister Ch Ayyanna Patrudu of TDP and his old rival P Uma Sankar Ganesh of YSRC. In 2014, elections Ayyanna defeated Ganesh and he is expected to retain the seat this time too.
There is fight again between sitting MLA Budi Mutyala Naidu of YSRC and Gavireddi Ramanaidu for Madugula constituency in 2019 elections and similarly sitting MLA KSN Raju will be fighting second time with Karanam Dharmasri of YSRC for Chodavaram assembly segment.
For Paderu ST Reserved seat, candidates are same but this time, they are contesting from different parties. Giddi Eswari who won in 2014 elections on YSRC ticket joined in TDP in 2017 and now she is contesting from TDP. Former minister P Balaraju of Congress, is contesting from Jana Sena Party to defeat his rival Giddi Eswari.
Of the seven seats where the candidates are same, YSRC will win in three segments, while TDP retains power in two segments and JSP will win in Paderu and Gajuwaka segments, said a political analyst. People will vote for change this time as some voters are against the TDP leaders facing corruption charges, he added.
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