Congress Splits YSRCP’s Votes in Srikakulam

The ruling party’s hopes of winning the Srikakulam parliamentary constituency are dwindling. Analysts believe that in this tripartite contest, TDP candidate Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu will benefit, while YSRCP candidate Perada Tilak will struggle.

It is evident that the Congress has split the YSRCP’s votes, while TDP’s vote bank has strengthened. The vote split, particularly in the Srikakulam Parliament and Tekkali Assembly seats, has occurred because leaders from their own social community contested from the Congress against the ruling party’s candidates.

In 2019, even during the Jagan wave, Rammohan Naidu won the Srikakulam MP seat for a second time. At that time, TDP also secured the Tekkali and Ichhapuram MLA seats, with Rammohan Naidu gaining a majority through cross-voting. Rammohan is confident of achieving a hat-trick this time.

YSRCP’s MP candidate, Perada Tilak, lost as an MLA candidate against Achchennaidu in Tekkali in the last election. However, being a member of the influential Kalinga community in the district, Jagan offered him the opportunity to contest as an MP this time.

Meanwhile, former Union minister Killi Kriparani, also from the Kalinga community, joined the Congress before this election, citing a lack of recognition in YSRCP, but failed to secure a seat. She is contesting as the Tekkali Congress candidate.

Reliable sources indicate that many YSRCP supporters voted for Kriparani, leading to a vote split within the YSRCP during this period. If Kriparani had been given an MP seat by YSRCP initially, she might have stayed with the party.

This vote split has resulted in a tough fight between TDP and YSRCP, but the contest appears one-sided in favor of Rammohan Naidu, particularly since the defeated Tilak was chosen as the MP candidate.

Pedada Parameswara Rao, contesting as an MP candidate from the Congress party, also belongs to the Kalinga community. Political analysts suggest that since Tekkali is part of his constituency, he was able to exert both direct and indirect influence, receiving support from his social class.

Some YSRCP supporters sided with Parameswara Rao. PCC president YS Sharmila and those loyal to Kriparani voted for Congress. Analysts believe this split of YSRCP votes has indirectly benefitted TDP, making the situation more favorable for Rammohan Naidu.