Triangular fight in Wyra, with Janasena testing waters in ST-dominated constituency

Assembly Constituency: Wyra (ST)

District: Khammam

MLA: Lavudya Ramulu

Reservation: ST

Total Voters: 1,89,363

Booths: 252

Urban Voters: 0%

Rural Voters: 100%

Male: 49.66%

Female: 50.34%

Caste & Religious Demography

• Gen + OBC: 52.00%

• SC: 16.70%

• ST: 31.40%

• Hindu: 94%

• Muslim: 4.00%

• Others: 2.00%

Candidates:

Bhanoth Madanlal (BRS)

Bhanoth Madanlal is contesting from the Wyra seat for the fourth time. Elected as the sarpanch of Eerlapudi village, Madanlal earned a good name. His political journey continued as he assumed the role of an MPTC member. Madanlal, who had his roots in left-wing politics, was actively involved in student politics, setting the stage for his later political endeavours. The BRS leadership is said to have offered him the ticket following reports on his winning chances.

Maloth Ramdass (Congress)

President of Lambadi United Forum of the erstwhile Khammam district, Maloth Ramdass (59) has a huge following of the young people in tribal hamlets. As a first-time contestant in Wyra, Ramdass who was denied a ticket three times by the Congress party, finally got the party’s nomination. He started his political career with NSUI, then the Youth Congress. He is now the TPCC member.

Dr Sampath Naik (Janasena)

Sampath Naik, a PhD from Osmania University, is the Janasena Party’s Telangana youth wing president and is known for his fiery oratory. Under an understanding with the BJP, the Janasena got the seat of Wyra. Deeply involved in the long-drawn agitation for a separate State, he vehemently opposes the BRS and its way of governance.

Assembly constituency information

Geography: It is a rural segment of the Khammam Parliamentary constituency. Enkuru, Konijerla, Singareni, Julurpadu, and Wyra mandals are part of this Assembly constituency. This constituency borders with the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. The ST community dominates the Konijerla, Singareni, and Wyra mandals.

Background: This constituency was formed after the 2008 delimitation. Communist influence is profound in this constituency. In the 2009 elections, the CPI won this constituency but in the 2014 Assembly elections, YSRCP candidate Bhanoth Madanlal won, in alliance with the CPI(M). In the 2018 Assembly elections, Congress-TDP alliance candidate Lavudya Ramulu won because there was a split of votes between communists and the TRS.

• After the 2014 Assembly elections, Banoth Balaji, Banoth Madanlal, and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy joined the BRS.

• The Koya community supported the YSRCP candidate in 2014.

• Mallu Bhati Vikramarka, a senior Congress leader, is from this constituency.

MLA Profile

Personal information: Lavudya Ramulu was born on June 21, 1955, and completed his BA. He joined the police department as a constable. He is married to Ram Bai. His son is an income tax officer in Mumbai and his daughter-in-law is an IPS officer of the Maharashtra cadre.

Profession: Retired Government employee

Political Background:

• He started his political career with the Congress. He expected a Congress ticket in the 2014 Assembly election. However, the seat was given to the CPI as part of the alliance.
• Again in 2018, the seat was given to the CPI, so he contested as an Independent candidate and won by defeating the sitting BRS MLA.
• He joined the ruling BRS after the 2018 Assembly elections.
• He is accessible to people

2014 Analysis: Banoth Madan Lal contested on the YSRCP symbol and won the election. His victory can be attributed to an alliance with the CPI(M) and support from Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy. He was able to secure votes from Koya, Andhra Settlers, and traditional communist votes. TDP candidate Balaji is a strong Lambada leader so he can secure their votes and votes from BC communities. The Congress-CPI alliance pulled some votes from the Koya and SC communities.

2018 Analysis: BRS sitting MLA Banoth Madan Lal contested and lost to the Congress rebel Lavudya Ramulu. His loss can mainly be attributed to his indifference to local BRS leaders and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy. Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy's group worked against the BRS candidate. The CPI-Congress alliance didn't work as vote transfer didn't take place because of Congress rebel candidate Lavudya Ramulu, who contested as an independent candidate. He was able to split Lambada votes between him and the BRS, and he also secured traditional SC votes.

Key Local Issues

• Lack of access to healthcare facilities in tribal areas

• Lack of staff in government hospitals

• Construction of a government hospital

• Wyra reservoir works

• Fire station in Wyra

• Doubling of single line Khammam -Wyra-Rajahmundry highway