BRS poised for maiden victory on Congress turf in Pinapaka

Assembly Constituency- Pinapaka (ST)

District: Bhadradri Kothagudem

MLA: Rega Kantha Rao (BRS)

Reservation: ST

Total Voters: 1,89,683

Booths: 241

Urban Voters: 21%

Rural Voters: 79%

Male: 50.30%

Female: 49.70%

Caste & Religious Demography

• Gen + BC: 51.20%
• SC: 15.60%
• ST: 33.30%
• Hindu: 94%
• Muslim: 5.00%
• Others : 1.00%

Candidates

Rega Kantha Rao (BRS)

Kantha Rao was born on April 9,1977 to Borraiah and Narasamma in Kurnapalle, Bhadradri Kothagudem district. He pursued his graduation in Dr BR Ambedkar Open University in Hyderabad in 2000. In 2005, he also pursued his graduation in Physical Education from Government College of Physical Education, Domalguda.

He is married to Sudha Rani and has two children. He began his political career with the Congress. In the 2009 Assembly elections, he became an MLA for the first time in the Pinapaka Assembly constituency. In the 2014 Assembly elections, he stayed away from contesting the elections.

In the 2018 Assembly elections, he contested as an MLA for the second time from Pinapaka Assembly constituency. He became an MLA for the second time by defeating BRS candidate Payam Venkateswarlu with a majority of 19,565 votes. In June 2019, he shifted his loyalties to the TRS (now BRS). In January 2022, he was appointed as the president of TRS Bhadradri Kothagudem district unit.

In the 2023 Assembly elections, he is going to contest as an MLA for a third time. He is going to take on Payam Venkateswarlu for a second time in the coming elections. He is serving as Government Whip in Telangana Legislative Assembly.

Payam Venkateswarlu (Congress)

Venkateswarlu was born on May 6, 1974 in Samithi Singaram of Manguru mandal in Bhadradri Kothagudem district. He pursued his Intermediate education from Government junior college, Manuguru from 1990-1992. He discontinued his Bachelor of Arts from Government degree college, Manuguru.

He joined the CPM party affiliate Students' Federation of India (SFI) during his college days. He began his political career with the CPM and worked in different capacities. In the 2004 Assembly elections, he became an MLA for the first time from the CPM by contesting from Burgampahad Assembly constituency.

He shifted his loyalties to the YSRCP from the CPM. In the 2014 Assembly elections, he became an MLA from the Pinapaka Assembly constituency by defeating TRS candidate Shankar Naik Nunavath. In the wake of the subsequent political developments, he joined the TRS and contested in the 2018 Assembly elections. He was defeated by Congress candidate Rega Kantha Rao.

Venkateswarlu quit the BRS and joined the Congress along with former MP Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy in the presence of MP Rahul Gandhi at the Telangana Congress Jan Garjana Sabha held in Khammam on July 2. In the 2023 Assembly elections, he is contesting as an MLA for a third time from Pinapaka Assembly constituency. He is going to take on BRS candidate Rega Kantha Rao and BJP candidate Podiyam Balaraju.

Podiyam Balaraju (BJP)

Balaraju was an income tax department employee and served as leader of employee unions. He began his political career with the BJP. He is a novice and is contesting as an MLA for the first time on behalf of the BJP in Pinapaka Assembly constituency in the 2023 Assembly elections.

Assembly constituency information

Geography

• This constituency was formed in 2009, due to delimitation. Earlier, it was a part of Burgampahad Assembly constituency. It is a rural constituency and part of Mahabubabad Parliament.
• Pinapaka, Manuguru, Gundala, Burgampahad and Aswapuram Mandals are part of this constituency. Munuguru is a large municipality in this Assembly constituency.

Political Background

• Earlier, the CPI was very strong in this constituency and now the TRS gained a stronghold through implementation of welfare schemes
• ST Koya communities votes split between the CPI and the YSRCP.
• The BCs voted for the BJP in the 2014 Assembly elections because of their alliance with the TDP.

2014 Assembly elections Analysis:

• In 2013, Payam Venkateswarlu joined the YSRCP from the CPI in 2013. He is a very close associate of Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy,
• Venkateswarlu contested in the 2014 Assembly elections from Pinapaka and became an MLA.
• Venkateswarlu victory could be attributed to sympathy towards YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and the welfare schemes of YS Rajasekhara Reddy.
• The ST community votes were consolidated towards the YSRCP.
• Shankar Naik Nunavath who is a well-known leader contested on behalf of the TRS.
• The BJP was able to secure more votes from the BC community because of the alliance with the TDP. However, they failed to secure a majority because of votes split between the BJP and the TRS.
• The CPI was able to secure votes from the SC community.

2018 Assembly elections Analysis:

• In 2018, Rega Kantha Rao won as an MLA in the constituency by defeating TRS candidate Payam Venkateswarlu.
• The Congress gained an advantage from the YSRCP activists in the elections.
• The CPM and the BJP lacked stable leadership in the constituency.
• As many as 868 voters chose the None of the Above (NOTA) instead of casting their votes to main candidates.

Current situation

• MLA Rega Kantha Rao joined the TRS after he won from the Congress in the 2018 Assembly elections. He is available to the people of Pinapaka round-the-clock.
• Rao strove well for the development of his constituency, securing crores of funds after he shifted his loyalties to the TRS from the Congress
• Rao fulfilled the dreams of people for irrigation projects and proper roads in villages.
• Rao is instrumental in setting up a 100-bed hospital, RTA office at Manuguru, polytechnic college and others.
• Payam Venkateswarlu is active on the ground and aiming for a victory in the constituency.
• The BJP fielded a former income tax employee as an MLA candidate and is facing leadership crisis in the constituency.