The political mood in Prathipadu and Tuni Assembly constituencies in East Godavari district is the most eagerly watched as they are traditionally nurtured by two leaders whose wishes are seldom negated by the electorate.
One of them made his debut in 1978 and the other in 1983 and they are still in a position to leverage their clout to the advantage of respective parties.
Electoral trendsThe duo are none other than Yanamala Ramakrishnudu (TDP) and Mudragada Padmanabham (Congress) who have time and again defied the electoral trends. Mr. Ramakrishnudu has won all the elections held in 2004, 1999, 1994, 1989, 1985 and 1983.
He holds the record of being the only people’s representative in the district who won six consecutive elections and he is expected to retain it. Ramakrishnudu emerged victorious as an independent in 1983 elections and represented the TDP on all other occasions.
Mr. Padmanabham had been switching loyalties at the drop of a hat.
There is no other politician in this district who changed parties as many times as he did since he first contested as a candidate of the Janata party in 1978.
He represented the Congress in 1994 and 1989, TDP in 1985 and was an independent in 1983.
Besides, Mr. Padmanabham contested for Kakinada Parliament seat twice in 2004 and 1999 on behalf of TDP. He lost to M.M. Pallam Raju in 2004 of Congress in 2004 and defeated Thota Subba Rao of Congress in 1999.
Dubious distinctionPrathipadu had a dubious distinction of being the fiefdom of three political families, that of Mudragada, Varupula and Parvata.
Nineteen out of 20 candidates (winners and runners-up put together) in the last 10 elections since 1962 hailed from those families. Their ratio of representation is 8:7:4 in the above order.
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