Yerran Naidu sitting pretty in TDP bastion

Once a cradle of naxalite movement, the backward Srikakulam district in north coastal Andhra Pradesh, bordering Orissa, appears unprepared for any revolution of the political kind as the ruling TDP continues to hold its sway over the region with its leader in the dissolved Lok Sabha K Yerran Naidu sitting pretty, seeking a fourth term.

The average voter in the district, which is witnessing migration of labour, is more worried about elusive irrigation projects, drinking water and delayed railway gauge conversion works but has been reposing faith in the regional party since its inception in 1982.

Yerran Naidu, who achieved a hat-trick in the 1999 polls winning the Srikakulam Lok Sabha seat with over 96,000 votes, exudes confidence that developmental works initiated by the government would stand him in good stead and harps on the 'feel good factor and India shining' theme in his campaign meetings.

Srikakulam, which is perennially bracketed under drought-hit category, has 12 Assembly segments and one Lok Sabha constituency. The TDP virtually made a clean sweep bagging 11 Assembly seats in the previous elections.

While the ruling party considers Srikakulam as its bastion, the lone Congress winner in the previous Assembly polls D Prasada Rao from Narsannapeta claims that there is an undercurrent of anti-incumbency wave.