Rayachoti,  A YSRCP Stronghold

Rayachoti: Rayachoti Assembly constituency is among the 10 constituencies  in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. It was represented by Gadikota Srikanth Reddy from YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). This constituency was won by Gadikota Srikanth Reddy on a Congress ticket in 2009. He later resigned his MLA seat, left the Congress party, and joined the YSRCP. Srikanth Reddy won the seat with a majority of 50,000 votes. Rayachoti constituency falls under the Rajampet Lok Sabha constituency.

Sugavasi Palakondrayu represented the constituency  four times(1978, 1983, 1999, 2004)of which, once it was on a ticket by JNP, next as an independent. Later for two terms, he won on a TDP ticket.

Congress leader Mandipalle Nage Reddy represented the constituency for two terms on Congress ticket (1985, 1989). Another leader from the Congress party M Narayan Reddy represented the constituency in the Assembly for two times(1993, 1994).

Rayachoti Assembly constituency is located in Y.S.R. - Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh and comes under the Rajampet Lok Sabha constituency. P.V.Midhun Reddy (YSRCP) is the present Lok Sabha MP of Rajampet. He resigned his Lok Sabha seat in April 2018, demanding Special Category Status for the state, along with YS Avinash Reddy (Kadapa), V. Varaprasad (Tirupati), YV Subba Reddy and (Ongole) Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy (Nellore).

As per the estimates of 2011 census, out of total 3,17,385 population 69.03% is rural and 30.97% is urban. The scheduled castes and scheduled tribes ratio is 10.12 and 2.64, respectively out of total population.

As per the voter list of 2018, there are 2,04,255 voters and 267 polling stations in this constituency. Voter turnout in the 2014 assembly election was 76.49% where as it was 75.65% in 2014 Lok Sabha Elections.

The BJP, the INC, the YSRCP and the TDP got %, 1.2%, 56.39% and 36.15% votes respectively in 2014 Assembly Election while 31.13%, 2.29%, 60.47% and % in 2014 Parliamentary Election respectively.

Gadikota Srikanth Reddy, a software engineer from Washington DC, came back from to India to help his father Gadikota Mohan  Reddy a Congress MLA from Lakkireddipalle constituency during his election campaign in 2004. In 2012 he resigned from the Congress and joined Dr YS Rajasekhara  Reddy and continued  his association with the YRS family by joining the  YSR Congress Party established by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. He won and was elected for the first time during 2009 Assembly elections.

Gadikota Srikanth Reddy  finds himself pitted against  TDP candidate Reddeppagari Ramesh Reddy, an arch rival,  whose father R Rajagopal Reddy  had contested against his father Gadikota Mohan  Reddy.

Keen on promoting industrial development in the backward segment for generating employment avenues, he also continues his activities in serving the poorer sections, is accessible to the people of Rayachoti, devoting time for their welfare in continuation of  his father's tradition. Drinking water problem, low levels of ground water and  perennial drought  are the main problems that he needs to tackle.

A strong candidate with a an equally great legacy, there is a clear indication that Gadikota Srikanth Reddy  would win for the second time with a thumping majority.

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