Kurnool District Profile : LS And Assembly Constituencies

Kurnool district which is an arid and backward area of the Rayalaseema region in Andhra Pradesh is known for its violent factional activities, apart from the perennial drought and famine plaguing this area. It is also referred to as the Gateway of Rayalaseema and was the capital of Andhra State from 1953 to 1956. But Kurnool missed the chance of becoming the capital of the erstwhile-united Andhra Pradesh before it was replaced by Hyderabad.

Water is also at the forefront of unrest in Rayalaseema. The region is famous for a variety of crops including groundnut rice. cotton, tobacco and, sunflower. Irrigation continues to remain a long neglected issue despite the 300 kilometre long KC canal and the 406 kilometre long Telugu Ganga project.

Problems and issues

The issue of water-sharing with the neighbouring states of Karnataka, Telangana also has been a bane for farmers there. The region that is arid, rocky combined with poor rainfall, continued famine and dried up irrigation projects has led to poverty, unemployment and migration of labour to greener pastures this apart from illiteracy. The district headquarters also faces a severe drinking water problem, civic amenities and pliable roads.

Kurnool Lok Sabha Constituencies

Kurnool and Nandyal are the two Lok Sabha constituencies in Kurnool district.

Kurnool Lok Sabha constituency used to be a Congress powerhouse from where Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy became an MP six times between 1977 and 1998. The party won the seat last in 2009. In 2104, Butta Renuka of the YSRCP, won the Lok Sabha elections defeating TDP’s BT Naidu by 44,131 votes. She joined the TDP later, but then returned to the YSR Congress Party recently. She described her return to the YSRCP as a homecoming.

The YSRCP has fielded Dr Singiri Sanjeev Kumar from the constituency this time. Dr Sanjeev Kumar represents the BC community and though is a new entrant to politics, he has gained wide recognition among the people for his social work. The doctor has set up about 100 free camps in the region to perform surgeries that are not covered by Arogyasri.

The TDP has nominated Kotla Surya Prakash Reddy, (son of Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy) a former union minister, who joined the party from the Congress.

Nandyal Lok Sabha constituency has the distinction of being the only constituency to elect two eminent leaders who occupied the top most posts in the country- Neelam Sanjeeva reddy and Prime Minister PV NarasimhaRao . This time it will witness a three-party fight among YSRCP, TDP and JSP in the 2019 elections. Pocha Brahmananda Reddy is the YSRCP candidate who will be pitted against TDP candidate Mandra Sivananda Reddy, a retired police officer, who is making his electoral debut. Sitting YSRCP MP sitting MP SPY Reddy, is contesting on Jana Sena ticket but is not seen as a strong contender for his party hopping in the last minute and may not have much impact because theJana Sena doesn’t have a strong cadre base either. So effectively it will be a fight between the YSRCP and TDP.

Kurnool Assembly Constituencies

•Adoni - It will be a fight between incumbent Y Sai Prasad Reddy of the YSRCP Vs TDP's Konka Meenakshi Naidu

•Allagadda that has witnessed many dramatic episodes over the few years will see TDP Minister Bhuma Akhila Priya testing her luck again against YSRCP Gangula Brijendranath Reddy.

•Alur TDP's Kotla Sujathamma wife of Kotla Surya Prakash Reddy who is the Kurnool MP Candidate will be fighting against YSRCP P Jayaram

•In Banaganapalle constituency TDP incumbent BC Janardhana Reddy faces a wave of anti-incumbency in his battle against YSRCP's Katasani Rami Reddy.

•Dhone assembly constituency will see YSRCP sitting MLA Buggana Rajendranath Reddy who could predictably have an easy win over TDP deputy Chief Minister KE Krishnamurthy's brother K.E Pratap

•Kodumur Assembly constituency where the YSRCP has already won the 2014 elections , will witness an electoral battle between Dr K Sudhakar Reddy of the YSRCP and former Guntur district Collector B Ramanjaneyulu of the TDP

•In Kurnool Assembly constituency YRSCP leader Hafeez Khan finds himself in a face off Kotla Jayasuryaprakash Reddy of the Kotla family. In this serious electoral challenge, Hafeez Khan could upstage the Kotla clan, some observers say.

•YSRCP's Y Bala Nagi Reddy takes on TDP's Thikka Reddy once again in Mantralayam Assembly constituency.

•Nandikotkur (SC) will see YSRCP candidate Arthur pitted against lesser know Bandi Jayaraju.

•Nandyal Assembly constituency will see YSRCP Shilpa Ravichandra Reddy pitted against incumbent candidate Bhuma Brahmananda Reddy

•The fight for Panyam seat will be mainly between YSRCP's Katasani Rambhupal Reddy and TDP's Gouru Charitha Reddy

•Pattikonda Assembly will be witness to a a fight between B Sreedevi of the YSRCP and K.E Shyam Babu, considered a heavyweight only because he is the son of Dpty CM KE Krishna Murthy and is making his political debut in 2019.KE Krishna Murthy vacated this seat to make way for his son.

•Srisailam Assembly constituency will a tough fight between YSRCP's Silpa Chakrapani Reddy vs TDP's Budda Rajasekhar Reddy who earlier won with on the YSRCP ticket.

•Yemmiganur Assembly constituency will see YSRCP's K Chenna Kesahava Reddy face TDP's sitting MLA B. Jayanageshwara Reddy.

It is widely believed that the YSRCP would have a successful run at the hustings this time in the entire district of Kurnool. The ruling TDP on the other hand, will find the going difficult this time around.

Also Read: Guntur District Profile: Parties, Candidates List