Who Has The Edge In Bheemili?

Visakhapatnam: Bheemili assembly segment falls under the Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha seat. It is reputed to be among the oldest municipalities in the country. This picturesque constituency by the sea has witnessed little development since 2014.

Bheemili assembly constituency has six mandals under it and they are Bheemili (Urban-GVMC), Bheemili (Rural), Anandapuram, Padmanabham and Visakha Rural (wards 4,5, of GVMC Madhurawada zone and parts of ward numbers 6 and 72).

Bheemili is witnessing a massive popular swing in favour of the YSRCP. It was once a tranquil seaside place celebrated for its scenic appeal. A hotbed of corruption over the past 5 years, constituents of Bheemili are waiting for the elections to teach the ruling TDP a lesson.

YSRCP Has The Edge In Bheemili

Bheemili today is another prominent centre of the scams rocking the state to the tune of thousands of crores of rupees, thanks to the misrule of the TDP. Most of these scandals relate to land and revolve around D pattas, poramboke land, Inam and Bhoodan lands, all of which have come under the gaze of the TDP leaders.

The ruling TDP leaders' modus operandi in Bheemili has been simple--grab vacant land in the area using their clout. Land records have been manipulated indiscriminately, sources in government circles said, on the condition of anonymity. Even while a farmer is cultivating his land, it is being transferred to someone else without his knowledge, they said.

Avanthi Srinivasa Rao who resigned from the TDP and joined the YSR Congress Party is the coordinator for the area now. He wields considerable influence in the area and therefore, lends muscle to the YSRCP presence in the area.

The constituents of Bheemili are vexed with the excesses and atrocities of minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao and members of his family and the ruling TDP. The ruling party was therefore, rattled by the overwhelming response which YS Jagan Mohan Reddy got during the course of his Padayatra in these parts. As in many other parts of the state, people here are determined to give the YSRCP an opportunity to win from Bheemili.

Nara Lokesh or Ganta?

It is widely being speculated that Nara Lokesh could be given the ticket from Bheemili this time. While there is widespread resentment against the TDP, the ruling party still reckons this is a safe seat. Meanwhile, minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao is believed to be seething with anger if he were to be shifted to another . It is as yet unclear as to who will get the TDP ticket from Bheemili. One thing however, is certain. If Nara Lokesh were to get the TDP ticket, the party could lose face here.

Total no. of voters in the constituency as per census 2017: 2,64,520

Dominant castes and social groups: Kapus, Yadavas, who add up to about 100,000 voters in equal number are the largest two groups, followed by fishermen, SCs and Reddys.

These are the prominent winners from 1952 when the the seat was first carved out:

1952......Socialist Party

1957.....Praja Socialist Party

1962.... Congress

1967.....Congress

1972.....Congress

1978.....Congress

1983-99..TDP

2004....Congress

2009...TDP

2014...TDP

Major Problems:

• Chittivalasa Jute Mill lockout and its fallout.
• Proposed RTC complex at Tagarapuvalasa yet to take off.
• Proposed Rythu Bazar at Tagarapuvalasa promised by Ganta Srinivasa Rao in 2014.
• Government Junior colleges for education at the plus 2 level in Anandapuram and Tugarapuvalasa.
• A bridge over Gosthani river in Pandrangi panchayat.
• A 30 bed hospital at Tagarapuvalasa by the national highway.
• Development of Bheemili as a satellite township.

Also Read: YS Jagan Sounds Poll Bugle At Samara Sankharavam In Kakinada