Keen contest on the cards between Mekapati and Anam families at Atmakur assembly in Nellore district

TIRUPATI: The Atmakur assembly constituency in Nellore district is poised to witness a keen contest between two political legacies as the Telugu Desam Party has nominated former minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy to challenge YSRCP sitting MLA Mekapati Vikram Reddy in the 2024 assembly elections.Vikram Reddy's foray into politics was deemed accidental following the sudden demise of his sibling and former Industries and IT minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy in 2022. Vikram Reddy won the by-elections comfortably with a margin of 82,888 votes.While the scenario during the by-polls differed significantly from the prevailing trends leading up to the 2024 general elections, the political influence and legacies of the Mekapati and Anam families will come into play, alongside pertinent local issues, as the general elections approach.Anam Ramnarayana Reddy, a seasoned politician and former minister, is connecting with constituents by highlighting the failures of the YSRCP government. In contrast, Vikram Reddy is showcasing his achievements from the past three years to bolster his chances of securing a second consecutive victory in Atmakur in the 2024 polls.The non-completion of the Somasila high-level canal has emerged as a major electoral issue in Atmakur, with both the TDP and the YSRCP engaged in a blame game.Anam squarely blames the YSRCP for the delay in commissioning the Somasila project. However, Vikram Reddy clarified to TOI that the delay was due to errors and irregularities during the land acquisition phase under Anam and the previous government. He stated that the project's cost escalated abnormally, and discrepancies between actual land acquired and land recorded on paper inflated compensation payments. Vikram Reddy expressed confidence that, if re-elected, the YSRCP government would prioritize completing the Somasila project promptly.