After 30 Years, Pulivendula Voting Peacefully!

After thirty years, Pulivendula is witnessing peaceful voting, thanks to the Chandrababu Naidu government. For the first time, the region is experiencing a truly democratic election. Andhra Pradesh has held six ZPTC elections in 1995, 2001, 2006, 2013, and 2021, but Pulivendula never went to polls. Each time, the results were unanimous in favour of Congress or YSR Congress.

In 2016, the TDP fielded a candidate, but the YSR Congress managed to buy the candidate after the nomination withdrawal period had ended. Even without a candidate in the race, the TDP secured 2,750 votes out of 8,500 in that year’s ZPTC elections. This reflected the deep influence of faction politics in Pulivendula. Now, under the Chandrababu Naidu government, both the election and polling are taking place. Leaders of both parties have been taken into preventive custody to avoid trouble.

TDP MLC Ram Gopal Reddy, YSRCP MP Avinash Reddy, and MLC Satish Reddy were detained to ensure smooth polling. By noon, voter turnout had already crossed fifty percent. With preventive arrests and strong security, YSR Congress is facing pressure as there is no scope for rigging or booth capturing. The party and its media outlet Sakshi have started accusing the TDP of misusing official machinery, even though the Election Commission is monitoring polling through CCTV cameras.

Former MLA Ambati Rambabu led a protest at the Election Commission office. The YSR Congress fears the impact of losing this election, especially when its cadre is still recovering from the 2024 Assembly election defeat. Losing Pulivendula, their stronghold, would be a huge psychological setback. Pulivendula’s political dominance began to weaken in the 2024 elections, with Jagan’s majority falling from 90,110 in 2019 to 61,687, the lowest since 2009.

The TDP candidate is Marreddy Latha Reddy, wife of TDP in-charge B Tech Ravi, while Tummala Hemanth Reddy represents YSR Congress. The counting of votes will take place on August 14.