Alampur gears up for a tough electoral battle between Vijayudu, Dr SA Sampath Kumar

Assembly constituency: Alampur

District: Jogulamba Gadwal

MLA: Abraham V.M (Christian)

Reservation: SC

Total Voters: 2,30,626

Booths: 290

Urban Voters: 0%

Rural Voters: 100%

Male: 50.21 %

Female: 49.78 %

Caste & Religious Demography

Gen + BC: 75 %

SC: 24 %

ST: 1%

Hindu: 91 %

Muslim: 7 %

Others : 2 %

Candidates

Vijayudu (BRS)

Vijayudu was born in Alampur in 1980. He received his B.Tech in Civil Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in Hyderabad. Following graduation, he worked as a field assistant for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

Vijayudu first entered politics in 2014. He contested for the Alampur Assembly seat on behalf of the TRS (now BRS) in the 2014 and 2018 elections. He lost in both the elections.

Vijayudu is popular among the people of Alampur. He is well-known for his commitment to social justice and his advocacy for the poor.

Dr. S. A. Sampath Kumar (Congress)

Dr. S. A. Sampath Kumar, born in 1967, is a politician from the Alampur constituency. He received his MBBS from Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad.

He then spent several years working as a medical doctor in Alampur. He is contesting for the Congress in the Telangana Assembly elections in 2023.

Dr. Sampath Kumar, who entered politics in 2009, contested on behalf of the Congress in the Alampur Assembly constituency and won the elections. From 2009 to 2014, he served as an MLA, but lost the 2014 elections to VM Abraham of the TRS.

Rajagopal Perumallu (BJP)

Rajagopal Perumalla, the BJP's Alampur candidate, was born in 1965 and holds a postgraduate degree. Perumallu contested and won the Alampur constituency on behalf of the BJP candidate in 2014.

Constituency details

Geography

Alampur is divided into four mandals: Aiza, Itkyal, Waddepally and Manopad.

Alampur, situated near the Tungabadra riverbed, is considered the western gateway of Srisailam. The Alampur temples are recognized as an archaeological and architectural treasure on the official list of monuments by the Archaeological Survey of India.

The Northern architectural style introduced by the Chalukyas of Badami between 650 and 750 CE is what distinguishes this group of temples. Kudavelly Srinivas Rao, a well-known poet, belongs to this Assembly constituency.

Background

The TDP won once in the previous 15 Assembly elections, the Congress alliance won seven times, the BJP won three times, the Janata Party won once, an independent won twice, and the TRS won once.

The Alampur Assembly constituency was formed in 1959. As part of the delimitation process in 2009, it was designated as an SC seat. Ravula Ravindra Nath of the BJP won three elections: 1985, 1989, and 1999.

MLA profile

Personal background

Abraham VM, the sitting MLA, worked closely with Ansari and Raghava Rao, who were classmates of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy. They introduced him to YSR, and he later joined the Congress.

Education qualification

Abraham VM completed his MBBS in the 1976 batch, moved to the Middle East, and worked for 13 years. He returned and settled in Kurnool for the sake of his children's education.

Political background

After returning from the Middle East, Abraham VM practised medicine in Sheriff Nagar, where he gained popularity and provided free services to the poor. He was politically active for 31 years and provided medical assistance whenever possible for 22 years.

From 2009 to 2014, he was an MLA in the Congress. He joined the TRS (now BRS) in 2014, contested and lost in the Telangana Assembly elections in 2014.

He won the Telangana elections in 2018 on behalf of the TRS.

Cultural/Historical identifiers

The Jogulamba temple is considered a Shakti Peetha because it is where Sati Devi's upper teeth fell. The Navabrahma Temples complex includes nine Shiva temples. These temples were built by the Badami Chalukyas rulers, who were patrons of art and architecture, between the 7th and 8th centuries CE.

The Rashtrakutas and Western Chalukyas built 23” Hindu temples in Papanasi village between the 9th and 11th centuries.

The Kudavelli Sangameswara temple, the oldest of the Chalukyan temples at Alampur, is dated to pre-pulakesin-II (r. 610-642 CE) based on a label inscription discovered in the temple.

An archaeology museum is located at the entrance to the Bala Brahma Temple complex.

2014 Assembly constituency analysis

MLA Sampath Kumar reaped the benefits of the Congress rule in Karnataka during his tenure. He maintained close political ties with D K Aruna and sought her advice on a number of issues.

The Rajoli-Banda diversion scheme, which had been pending for 15 years, posed a significant challenge. Initially, there was a dispute only between two states, but after the formation of Telangana, three states (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka) became involved in the dispute.

MLA Sampath Kumar promised to work with the Karnataka Congress government to find a permanent solution that would benefit the Alampur Assembly Constituency. He also promised that the first, second, and third packages would be released before his victory.

Drinking water problems arose as a result of unfiltered water, leading to an increase in infections. Due to a lack of educational institutions, including degree and polytechnic colleges, residents were forced to travel to Kurnool.

While private schools were present, public schools were conspicuously absent. Although private schools were available, government educational institutions were not available.

Bridge construction was stalled for more than five years, causing inconvenience and safety concerns for residents. Manda Sreenath, the son of former TRS MP

Manda Jagannath, contested on behalf of the TRS and offered voters with an alternative option.

2018 Assembly constituency analysis

After winning election in 2014, MLA and AICC secretary Sampath Kumar faced criticism for being inaccessible to the public and not actively engaging with locals.

Residents expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of government educational institutions, such as degree and polytechnic colleges, which forced them to travel to Kurnool. Private schools were available, but government-supported options were lacking in the constituency.

Bridge construction remained unfinished for more than five years, contributing to a growing sense of dissatisfaction among the public.

The backlog of unfinished business from the 2009 and 2014 terms fueled anti-incumbency sentiments in Congress.

The TRS campaigned extensively, emphasising the funds allocated by the TRS government and claiming credit for all benefits provided to the Alampur public.

Sampath Kumar was embroiled in controversy, including allegations of a secret deal with the TRS.

His credibility was damaged by media reports about him joining the TRS. Accusations of corruption surfaced as he aggressively acquired land and experienced a sudden increase in wealth.

Sampath Kumar's image was further damaged by a disagreement with D K Aruna and increasing proximity to Revanth Reddy.

Sampath claimed credit for Taagu Niru, Saagu Niru, Vidya (permanent building degree and polytechnic), and five schools. However, the TRS refuted these claims and claimed that the TRS was the driving force behind all development efforts.

Despite Sampath Kumar's popularity and ability to connect with people, the Congress-TDP alliance failed to provide the necessary political advantage.

Alampur, traditionally a Congress stronghold with the TDP in second place, saw a shift in allegiance, with the TRS. Abraham received the majority of the support from the TDP cadre.

Current situation

BRS candidate Vijayudu is confident of winning the election. He has promised to work for the development of Alampur and to improve the lives of the people.

Dr. Sampath Kumar, the Congress candidate, will face a tough challenge from BRS candidate Vijayudu. Vijayudu is well-known for his commitment to social justice and his advocacy for the poor. Dr. Sampath Kumar, on the other hand, is a strong candidate with a good chance of winning the election.

Key local issues

• Constructing bridges at Nandhi Kotkur and Alampur to enhance connectivity and accessibility.
• Addressing health concerns arising from polluted water in the Tungabhadra River, implementing measures to mitigate water contamination.
• Tackling issues within the Padmashali community, including loan clearance through weavers' societies.
• Resolving drainage problems in Alampur town to enhance civic infrastructure and public health.
• Establishing a degree college and polytechnic college in Alampur to promote higher education opportunities
• Introducing government junior colleges in
• Itikyala and Manopadu mandals to enhance educational access for local students