Palasa, a major commercial centre in Srikakulam district is witnessing caste politics between the TDP and YSR Congress parties. It appears that Animal Husbandry Minister Seediri Appalaraju is trying to create a political foundation by showing the large fishermen community in his constituency as his caste people. At the same time, he alleged that Gouthu Sirisha was not from the BC caste as she had married a Chaudhary. However, she has been saying that her grandfather and her father were from the Gouthu community. She took exceptions to caste politics being played by the minister alleging that he was making every issue controversial. The minister is facing the counters from Sirisha and MP Rammohan Naidu.
The politics in Palasa which has been the care-of address for encroachments are taking different turns every day. Already there is a political heat between the Minister and the MP. Caste politics has led to a huge discussion in the state. The Srikakulam MP Rammohan Naidu alleged in a press conference that encroachments were going on in Palasa under the minister’s guidance and this led to discussions in the districts. There were allegations of corruption in the Purushothapuram Revenue village in the twin cities of Palasa and Kasibugga for quite some time. Especially in areas like Sudikonda, Nemalikonda, Erracheruvu and Surya Kalani, the encroachers put up flags regardless of whether it was hills, mounds, crop canals or ponds.
The minister in a press conference sounded a warning which didn’t go down well with the TDP leaders and cadre. The comments led to a caste battle in social media. Now, Gouthu Sirisha intervened in the verbal duel between the Minister and MP. It is learnt that the YSRCP leaders are targeting Sirisha in the name of caste as her surname is Gouthu. She is the granddaughter of freedom fighter Sardar Gouthu Latchanna. The YSRCP leaders allege that since her husband’s caste was different, how could she claim to be from the Gouthu family. Sirisha also gave a strong counter to the minister. She had warned that she would talk about the caste of the minister’s wife. Minister’s wife is from a strong social caste Kalinga.
The Gouthu family is continuing in politics with the support of fishermen and Kalinga castes in Uddhanam for the last three to four decades. The TDP cadre feels that the YSRCP wants to take away these castes from them hence the issue is being brought to the fore. It is said that the TDP was successful to get the fishermen towards themselves. At the same time, they have taken away the Kalinga and Vaishya community from the minister. There are reports that the TDP was looking to beat the YSRCP with a perfect plan. It has to be seen how these strategies would work for ruling and opposition parties.
