Niranjan Reddy fighting on development plank, Congress, BJP falter in last minute in Wanaparthy

Assembly Constituency: Wanaparthy

District: Wanaparthy

MLA: Singireddy Niranjan Reddy (Reddy)

Total Voters: 2,55,211

Booths: 296

Urban Voters: 19%

Rural Voters: 81%

Male: 50.45 %

Female: 49.54 %

Caste & Religious Demography:

• Gen + OBC: 74 %

• SC: 17 %

• ST: 19 %

• Hindu: 93 %

• Muslim: 6 %

• Others : 1 %

Candidates

Singireddy Niranjan Reddy (BRS)

He was born in Panagal, Wanaparthy to S Ram Reddy, a farmer. He did his B.Sc. and LLB from Osmania University. He married Vasanthi and has three daughters. He joined the TRS (now BRS) in 2001. Singireddy Niranjan Reddy contested from Kollapur in 2004 and Wanaparthy in 2014 but lost both times. He was appointed as vice-chairman of Telangana State Planning Board in 2014.

In 2018, in the Assembly elections, he was elected as an MLA with the highest majority of 51,685 votes of Wanaparthy. He was appointed as Minister for Agriculture, marketing, cooperation, food &civil supplies, and consumer affairs. He is a member of the BRS politburo.

Tudi Megha Reddy (Congress)

The Congress, which was sure of nominating former Minister Dr Chinna Reddy, finally gave the ticket to Tudi Megha Reddy. Megha Reddy was born to Tudi Sai Reddy. He is a business man by profession. He met the TPCC high command many a time to thwart the chances of G Chinna Reddy. Megha Reddy was a BRS MPP member from Peddamandadi. He was once close to Niranjan Reddy. However, he left the BRS and joined the Congress.

Anugna Reddy Bujala (BJP)

He is the owner of Annu's educational institutions in Wanaparthy. A local man who started his political career with the BJYM, he contested as a councillor but lost. Initially, the BJP gave the seat to Ashwathama Reddy who is a trade union leader (Telangana Mazdoor Union) with a grip on the TSRTC employees union. However, the party changed its mind and brought Anugna Reddy into the election arena.

Assembly constituency information:

Geography:

Wanaparthy consists of five mandals; Wanaparthy, Kihlla Ghanpur, Pedhamandhadi, Gopalpet and Pebbair. In 2009, as part of delimitation Gopalpet mandal and Gadwal's Pebbair mandal were included in Wanaparthy

Background:

Wanaparthy Assembly constituency was formed in 1952. First-generation Telangana movement leader Suravaram Prathapa Reddy was its MLA. Wanaparthy constituency is located on NH-44 (Banglore highway). It is a seat mostly dominated by the TDP and the Congress from 1983 to 2014. Since 1952, there have been 15 elections in the Wanaparthy constituency. Four times non-Reddies won and the rest of the times Reddies won as MLAs. In 1978, Jayaramulu (Golla-Yadava) won on Congress ticket. In 1972, Ayyappa (Lingayath) of the Congress won. In 1983, Balakistaiah (Mudhiraj) won from TDP. The BCs are a majority population in the Wanaparthy Assembly segment, but Reddies are a very dominant social group politically and economically.

Agriculture is the mainstay for the public. Most of the people work as migrant labourers in Hyderabad and other states. Jurala, Bheema, and Kalwakurthy projects are sources of irrigation. They are all still under construction. Ramanphad canal is the main source of drinking water before Mission Bhagiratha was constructed and implemented.

MLA profile:

Personal background:

Singireddy Niranjan Reddy comes from a landlord's family but he stayed mostly in Reddy’s hostel in Hyderabad and he participated in many student movements.

Political background:

Niranjan Reddy has been a close associate of KCR since 2001, he was also one of the founder members of the TRS. In 2004 and in 2009, he did not get a chance to contest in elections because of alliances. In 2014, he contested from Wanaparthy as a TRS candidate but he lost with a small margin. In 2016, he became Planning Board vice-chairman. KCR gave him enough importance in the party as well as in the Government. In 2018, he won as an MLA and was inducted into the Cabinet as Minister for Agriculture.

Profession:

Financial strength:Strong

2014 Assembly analysis:

• Wanaparthy election saw G. Chinna Reddy of the Congress emerge victorious by a narrow margin.

• In 2009, G Chinna Reddy faced defeat against TDP candidate Ravula Chandrashekar Reddy, but in 2014, the sentiment around the Telangana state formation, along with Congress claiming credit for it, played a crucial role in Chinnareddy's success.

• Wanaparthy has a unique tradition where power alternates between Ravula Chandrashekar Reddy and Chinna Reddy, each serving five years. In 2009, Ravula was the MLA, and in 2014, Chinna Reddy secured the victory.

• Niranjan Reddy, a new face in 2014, gained significant support through Telangana sentiment and KCR's public meetings, securing the second position.

• Wanaparthy generally exhibits a political trend where BCs support the TDP, while minorities, SCs, STs, and Reddies lean towards Congress.

• In 2014, BC votes were divided between the TDP and the TRS, impacting the overall electoral dynamics in Wanaparthy.

2018 Assembly analysis:

• In the 2018 elections, BRS candidate Singireddy Niranjan Reddy emerged victorious in Wanaparthy, facing tough competition from then-incumbent MLA G. Chinna Reddy.

• Niranjan Reddy, serving as the Planning Board vice-chairperson from 2015 to 2018, took credit for developmental activities in Wanaparthy.

• The BRS Government sanctioned SC, ST, BC, and minority residential schools, along with an agricultural polytechnic college, during this period. Niranjan Reddy claimed credit for these initiatives.

• Water scarcity, both for drinking and irrigation, was a critical issue addressed by the Kalwakurthy lift irrigation project. It played a pivotal role in filling lakes and supplying sufficient irrigation water through the Ramanpaadu pipeline, benefiting Wanaparthy and surrounding villages. This factor contributed significantly to BRS’s victory.

• Anti-incumbency sentiment was observed against MLA Chinna Reddy during the 2018 elections.

• A majority of the BC community, including Mudhiraj, Yadava, and other groups, supported the BRS in 2018. Additionally, minorities also lent their support to the BRS party in Wanaparthy during the election.

Current situation:

• There has been public dissatisfaction, particularly concerning the BRS’s unfulfilled promises such as double bedrooms, three-acre land allocation to Dalits, and Asara pensions, where eligible candidates faced challenges due to technical reasons.

• The prolonged demand for a railway line to Wanaparthy remains unmet, contributing to public discontent.

• Allegations have surfaced that only close aides of Niranjan Reddy are getting all the benefits, particularly the agricultural subsidies

• The construction of ‘Raithu Vedhikas’ has also faced criticism. They were purportedly awarded to individuals close to the Minister, raising concerns about fairness and transparency.

• These grievances reflect a broader sentiment of dissatisfaction within the public regarding various government initiatives and allocations, contributing to an overall anti-BRS sentiment.

Key local issues:

• A railway line to Wanaparthy is the main demand of the public.

• Palamur- Rangareddy Lift irrigation Scheme (PRLI)

• Completion of Yedula reservoir