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Chandrashekhar gets YSRC nod to contest in Vizianagaram LS seat in a surprise move

Visakhapatnam: The nomination of Bellani Chandrashekhar as YSRC candidate for Vizianagaram Lok Sabha seat has come as a surprise to many. Till Sunday morning the name doing the rounds was that of Botsa Jhansi.

Chandrashekhar is a former Congressman and ex-ZPTC chairman of Vizianagaram. YSRC sources said Bellani is close to the Botsa camp and is a Turpu-Kapu by caste, which worked in his favour.



Asked about Chandrashekhar’s chances of winning against the TDP titan Ashok Gajapathi Raju, a senior leader said: He is not a strong candidate. However, being a member of the dominant Kapu community could help swing the votes in his favour.”

The Kapus dominate much of the Vizianagaram MP constituency except in pockets such as Bobbili. In 2014 much of the Kapu votes went with TDP, this time around there could be a split.

A senior TDP leader said: “Last time, when the opposition was stiff, Ashok Gajapathi Raju won with a majority of over 1,06,000 plus votes, this time around he could win with the same margin, even if there is a split in the Kapu votes. What with the Bobbili scions, formerly with YSRC, are now in TDP.”

However, YSRC BC Cell general secretary G Madhava said: “The Turpu Kapus in Vizianagaram have tilted loyalties to YSRC. To think that it would be a cakewalk for the former Union minister would be a misplaced assumption.”

Other sources in YSRC also pointed out that things would have been easier for the former Union minister if the Botsa had stood against him.

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