Nellore:Parties wary of caste polarisation in Kovur

                                                            

The polarisation of different castes has picked up momentum giving a tough time to the major political parties in the run-up to the Kovur by-election campaign.

 

Recreated by the favorable caste equations, YSR Congress party leaders are talking about the victory of their candidate Nallapureddy Prasanna Kumar Reddy with a huge margin. Amidst this, the other two parties, TDP and Congress, are closely watching the polarisation of backward classes. Pattapu Kapus, who take a common decision at the time of polling, have not yet made up their mind on which party to support.

As per the final electoral roll, the voters in Kovur assembly segment come to 2.08 lakh. An estimate puts the number of Reddys approximately at 25,000, Malas at 26,000, Yanadis at 17,000, Muslims at 14,000, Yadavas at 15,000, Madigas at 12,000, Balijas at 12,000, Kammas and Gouds at 9,000 each.

Yanadis, who are another dominant factor in Kovur segment, are traditionally known to be supporters of the TDP ever since the entry of NTR in political arena. But this time some of them are stated to be in support of ruling Congress because of matinee idol Chiranjeevi.

All eyes are on the numerically strong castes and communities like Reddys, Malas and Yanadis, whose number is around 20,000. Also, Madigas, Muslims, Yadavas and Pattapu Kapus assume importance as their number is above 10,000 in Kovur segment. The main political parties started wooing these sections by approaching the community leaders and also by making promises.

The re-grouping of voters along caste lines is seen as an unprecedented development now. Similar polarisation took place in the election when the Reddy Congress confronted the Congress (I) led by Indira Gandhi. The former got total support of Reddy community but it had to lose with the other numerically strong and politically active caste, Malas, sailing with the Congress (I) along with different other groupings.

This by-election becomes unique and quite unlike the days of the Reddy Congress. Majority voters of the two dominant groups are seen as gravitating to the YSR Congress. Also, the Muslims, who are sizeable in number, are largely sailing with the Jaganmohan Reddy's party.