Naidu’s Defeat vs One Lakh Majority!

Kuppam has always remained TDP’s bastion since the party was formed in 1983. No other party except the TDP had won from Kuppam since then.

From 1989 till last elections, TDP boss N. Chandrababu Naidu had registered victory seven times successively. This time, the TDP has targeted to achieve a majority of 1 lakh votes even while the ruling YCP is hell bent on defeating him.

With the YCP launching efforts to trounce Naidu on his home turf, both Nara and Nandamuri families also campaigned extensively in Kuppam.

Naidu entrusted the campaign in-charge duties to party MLC Srikanth, a youngster in the party.

The YCP fielded Bharat, belonging to BC community, to defeat Naidu. YCP boss Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy even announced that he would give Cabinet berth to Bharat if he wins from the constituency.

This apart, the YCP ensured that the Handri-Neeva waters reached Kuppam before the elections, promised to complete the Palaru project too.

Above all, the responsibility of political affairs in the constituency were also given to Jagan’s most trusted lieutenant, minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy. Peddireddy also focused on Kuppam more than Punganuru, his native constituency.

This time, the poll officials said that a record voting percentage of 90 per cent was registered in the constituency. Of the total 2,25,775 voters in the constituency, 89.88 per cent of them, which means nearly 2,02,920 exercised their franchise.

In what can be said to be a never before act, Naidu also toured the constituency thrice in six months.

During last elections, Naidu won with a difference of 30,722 votes. In 2014, he won with a margin on 47,121, in 2009 with 46,055, in 2004 with 59,588 votes, in 1999 with 56,588, in 1989 with a difference of 6,918 votes.

With heightened efforts by both the ruling and opposition parties in the same constituency, it has to be seen who would win from Kuppam.