Tirupati: The battle for Nagari assembly constituency is turning into a political thriller. Actor turned politician and outgoing MLA R.K. Roja confronts the dynastic Gali Bhanu Prakash to save her turf.
With factionalism in Rosas’ party rearing its head and Gali’s scion attempting to revive his family’s dominance in the region, the stage is set for an intense electoral contest.
Roja aims to score an unprecedented hat-trick of election victories. He beat the odds to win the election in 2014 against TD’s Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu by a margin of 858 votes. He retained the seat in 2019 by defeating his son Bhanu Prakash by 2,708 votes.
Roja faces her toughest battle yet as voices of dissent emerge from within her own party workers. Despite his claims of achievements for the development of Nagari, he faced negative publicity, which increased his uneasiness due to infighting within the YSRC. He has faced criticism from his own party leaders in many quarters and they are vowing to ensure his defeat.
“The negativity doesn’t bother me at all. My bond with the constituents here remains strong, given their first-hand experience of the performance of the YSRC government,” says Roja.
“However, I cannot deny that this election will be tough because of backstabbing from some quarters. I am well aware of my support base in the constituency, and my voters want me as their MLA. Willing to retain.”
Bhanu Prakash is banking on the political capital of his family’s four-decade rule in the constituency to reclaim the seat. After tasting his first electoral defeat against Roja in 2019, Bhanu is now going all out by focusing his campaign on TD’s ‘Super Six’ schemes that promise financial security to the underprivileged.
Drawing strength from the legacy of his father Gali Muddukrishna Naidu, the six-time MLA, cabinet minister and driving force behind Nagari’s infrastructure development for over three decades till his demise, is looking to outwit Bhanu Roja’s juggernaut. Express confidence in your abilities.
“My father’s track record is a testament to the transformational development he has brought about in all sectors in the Nagari constituency,” claims Bhanu.
