It may be said here that the ruling YSR Congress party wanted to reorganize the districts in the Andhra Pradesh. It wants to replicate what the TRS did in Telangana in the name of decentralization of the administration to make sure government policies and welfare measures reach the last mile. However, it turned out to be a major step for the TRS to consolidate its political grips across Telangana vis a vis the opposition parties.
The YSRCP too wanted to replicate and complete the process of reorganization of the district in the next two years. Riding on the back of government schemes, it hopes to consolidate politically before the general elections in 2024.
However, cutting across the political affiliations, politicians, intellectuals, employees and youth in the district are planning to chalk out an action plan to build people’s movement against the proposed reorganization of the Srikakulam district.
People in Srikakulam district fear that the parliament constituency-wise reorganization might leave the district, without a head and tail. They also fear that the district’s rich history and cultural past might be lost forever.
Former minister and Srikakulam MLA Dharmana Prasad Rao had made it clear in a public meeting that people will not tolerate reorganization of the district. MP Vijaya Sai Reddy who was present in the meeting felt disconcerted throughout.
Constituency composition
Srikakulam district comprises off Ichapuram, Palasa, Pathapatnam, Tekkali, Narasannapeta, Srikakulam, Etcherla, Rajam and Palakonda Assembly constituencies. Of these, Srikakulam, Narasannapeta, Tekkali, Pathapatnam, Palasa, Ichapuram Assembly Constituencies fall under the Srikakulam Lok Sabha constituency. Reorganizing the district based on parliamentary constituency would mean industrialized Etcherla and Rajam assembly constituencies would merge into Vizianagaram district. People are under the impression that Srikakulam as a district will end up as a loser when compared to other states.
Allegations of divide and rule dole-outs
The ruling party seems to have sensed the simmering discontent against the proposed district reorganization. Accordingly, it has started dole outs of plum postings to leaders belonging to different communities to buy silence and to get support for the reorganization of the district.
Palasa MLA Seediri Appala Raju, a recent entrant into politics in the district was given a ministerial berth in the State cabinet to elicit the support of fishermen community which has a considerable voter base. Another MLA Dharmana Krishna Das has not only been given ministerial berth but also made the deputy chief minister to garner the support of the people belonging to the strong Velama community in the district that can tilt fortunes. Perada Tilak was made the Chairman of Kalinga Corporation, Mamidi Srikanth, from Tekkali is chairman of Turpu Kapu Corporation and Andhavarapu Suribabu from Srikakulam was appointed the chairman of Kalinga Vysya Corporation. In turn, the ruling party expects to increase its grip over different communities in the district through these community leaders.
The ruling party is trying hard to gather more support to reorganise the district. People from the district seem to have other plans – to organise themselves and launch protests.
