A David vs Goliath battle shaping up in Vijayawada West

Ballot battle in Vijayawada West Assembly segment between YSRCP and TDP-JSP-BJP alliance intensifies.

Ballot battle: A keen tussle on the cards in Vijayawada West Assembly segment (

VIJAYAWADA

A keen tussle is on the cards in Vijayawada West Assembly constituency where the ruling YSRCP candidate Shaik Asif, a new face in the election arena, is locking horns with former Rajya Sabha member, former Union Minister and a businessman Yalamanchili Satyanarayana (Sujana ) Chowdary, who is the face of the TDP-JSP-BJP (NDA) alliance in the electoral battle.

One of the seven Assembly segments of the Vijayawada Lok Sabha constituency, Vijayawada West has always been considered a seat worth fighting for. The story is no different this time too.

Mr. Asif, who is a former corporator and A.P. State Minority Finance Corporation Chairman, has the advantage of having the ease of winning over the common man in the constituency unlike his opponent, considered a wealthy and influential businessman, who headed the Hyderabad-based Sujana Group of industries before joining politics.

Jana Sena Party leader Pothina Mahesh was seen as a strong contender for this seat, while Jaleel Khan, who has represented this constituency in the Assembly as a Congress MLA in the past, but has now shifted loyalty to the TDP, even threatened to commit suicide if denied the ticket, has fallen in line after being pacified by the party leadership. The names of a few other aspirants from the BJP like Adduri Sriram, Babburi Sriram and Tarun Kakani made rounds until Mr. Sujana Chowdary was suddenly ‘air-dashed’ by the alliance partners.

Mr. Chowdary’s strong lobbying for Vijayawada Lok Sabha seat went in vain, as ticket for this key Parliamentary segment was given to TDP candidate Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni), who is now engaged in a direct battle with his brother Kesineni Nani, who made a crossover to the YSR Congress Party after being denied the ticket.