WANTED! A Strong Candidate Against Lokesh

Mangalagiri is emerging as one of the key constituencies to watch in Andhra Pradesh politics, largely because of Nara Lokesh’s strong connection with the seat. After winning the 2024 election, Lokesh has been actively focusing on constituency development and strengthening his local presence. This has put the YSRCP in a difficult position as it looks for a leader who can take him on in the next election.

The YSRCP had made a serious attempt to defeat Lokesh in the 2024 election. The party brought in Ganji Chiranjeevi, who had earlier been associated with the TDP, and later fielded Murugudu Lavanya. However, Lokesh secured a comfortable victory, leaving the YSRCP with the task of rebuilding its organisation in the constituency.

The bigger problem for the YSRCP now is not simply finding a candidate but finding someone who can stay in the constituency and build a strong political base over the next few years. The party’s local leadership has gone through several changes, creating uncertainty among its cadre.

Donthireddy Vema Reddy had been handling the party’s affairs in Mangalagiri and was reportedly preparing for a possible electoral battle. However, the YSRCP has now appointed Burramukku Venugopala Somireddy as the new constituency in-charge. The move has reportedly created dissatisfaction among sections of the local party leadership.

This is not the first time the YSRCP has faced difficulty in finding a stable face against Lokesh. Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, who had defeated Lokesh in the 2019 election, is no longer active in the same political space. Lavanya also remained largely away from active party programmes after the 2024 defeat.

For the YSRCP, this makes Mangalagiri an important organisational challenge. Lokesh is likely to remain one of the most prominent faces in the constituency, while the opposition needs a candidate with strong local support, a committed cadre and the ability to maintain a sustained campaign.

The new appointment gives Somireddy an opportunity to establish himself, but the real test will be whether he can build a strong presence in Mangalagiri and bring the local YSRCP leadership together.

With the next election still few years distance away, the YSRCP has time to strengthen its organisation. But if it wants to seriously challenge Lokesh in Mangalagiri, the party will need more than a change of in-charge. It needs a strong and consistent political face who can stay on the ground and build the fight from now.