Triangular contest in Rampachodavaram

Kakinada: The Rampachodavaram Assembly constituency popularly known as 'Rampa' is going to witness triangular contest with TDP, YSRCP and CPM in alliance with Jana Sena party in the fray. Of the three, the CPM fielded senior leader and three-time MLA Sunnam Rajayya for the fourth term.

Earlier, Rajayya won from Bhadrachalam ST reserved constituency in combined state in 1999, 2004 and 2014. After the state bifurcation and merger of four mandals from Telangana into AP, which lead to formation of Chintur sub-division, Rajayya said to have opted to contest from Rampachodavaram in AP this time.

Known for his simplicity, honesty, seniority and service motto to tribal population, Rajayya seems to be enjoying slight edge over the other two, Vantala Rajeswarari of TDP and Nagulapalli Dhanalakshmi of YSR Congress. The CPM leaders of East Godavari are in anticipation of victory for Rajayya as he is known for his service to tribal population all along his political carrier and during the three terms as legislator representing Bhadrachalam (now in Talangana) after the state bifurcation.

As far as the TD candidate Vantala Rajeswari, who is sitting MLA from the constituency, got elected on behalf of YSRC in 2014 and later switched her loyalties to TDP. The TDP had chosen her for second term despite stiff competition from former TD MLA Chinnam Babu Ramesh and Seetamsetti Venkateswara Rao.

The YSRC has chosen party assembly constituency in-charge Nagulapalli Dhanalakshmi as its candidate. The constituency falls under Araku Lok Sabha constituency which is in neighboring Visakhapatnam district.The constituency was earlier under Bhadrachalam LS constituency and in 2009 reorganisation the same has been included in Araku LS constituency.