Kurnool’s Triangular Caste Battle: Congress Nominates PG Rampullaiah Yadav (image-Facebook/Shaik Fairoz)

The scenes from Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool Lok Sabha constituency are filled with caste-based strategies to attract voters from minority communities. Congress has nominated PG Rampullaiah Yadav from the Yadav community.

While the YSR Congress Party has fielded city mayor BY Ramaiah from the Valmiki Boya community, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has fielded B Nagaraju from the Kuruva community. The Valmiki Boya community holds strategic importance for the ruling party.

Disappointed with the ruling YSR Congress under Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, son of Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, over their unfulfilled promises, such as failing to implement all the welfare schemes as promised, labour shortages, and more, the people of Kurnool desire a change in government.

At the same time, the public appears to be hesitant to cast their votes in favour of the TDP due to its alliance with the BJP. As per political analysts, while Congress may win some votes from the share of the YSRCP, it will ultimately be beneficial for the TDP.

In the 2019 elections, the YSRCP won the Kurnool seat along with all seven assembly seats in it. According to political analysts, this time the TDP may bag 3–4 assembly seats.

Notable leaders such as Mir Osman Ali Khan, the ruler of erstwhile Hyderabad, won the seat in the 1957 elections on the Congress ticket. Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy won the seat six times between 1977 and 1998, while his son, Kotla Jayasurya Prakasa Reddy, won thrice: 1991, 2004, and 2009, representing Congress.

The Kurnool Lok Sabha constituency comprises seven Vidhan Sabhas, including Kurnool, Alur, Adoni, Pattikonda, Kodumur (SC), Yemminganur, and Mantralayam. The constituency has a notable SC (18.2 percent), ST (2 percent), and Muslim (16.55 percent) population.