Caste factor key as TDP, YSRCP fish for votes in Machilipatnam

What makes the contest an intriguing is the BC backgrounds of both Rao and Partha Sarathy, who had in 2009 won the Penamaluru Assembly segment of the this parliamentary constituency. While Rao had won this seat in 2009 elections for TDP by defeating his nearest Congress candidate by a margin of a little over 12,000 votes.

But the political scenario in Andhra Pradesh has undergone a massive change since then and now the state is all set to be formally bifurcated in June with the separate Telangana state emerging as one of the main issues.

The Machilipatnam Lok Sabha constituency has over 13 lakh voters and comprises seven Assembly segments -- Machilipatnam, Pedana, Gudivada Gannavaram, Penamaluru, Pamarru and Avanigadda. Electors would also be voting simultaneously for Assembly elections.

Another crucial factor in Machilipatnam is the presence of nearly two lakh voters from the Kapu community, which is seeking OBC status. Out of 13 lakh electors, nearly 50 per cent are from BC community, according to estimates.

In the 2009 elections, C Ramachandraiah, candidate from Prajarajyam party, had bagged over 1.80 lakh votes here after gaining the support of the Kapu community.

Thus the preference of Kapu voters could turn out to be of great significance in this Lok Sabha seat which, in previous elections, Congress won seven times followed by TDP on four occasions. Besides, an Independent candidate and the Left, too, have won once each from here.