Who would have thought that, BJP’s Katipally Venkata Ramana (KVR) would defeat both sitting CM KCR and incoming CM Revanth Reddy, from Kamareddi in Telangana. In the previous assembly elections of 2018, Venkata Ramana Reddy secured the third position with only 15,439 votes but come the assembly elections of 2023 and KVR emerged as a dark horse defeating, the two leaders who were seen as the run-up to the CM post in Telangana.
Katipally Venkata Ramana Reddy with 2500 odd followers on Twitter has defeated CM faces of both BRS and INC . Once again this shows ELECTION isn't fought on social media, it's fought on ground and depends on how well one does connect with people pic.twitter.com/bDxuBziNtr
— Subham. (@subhsays) December 3, 2023
Who is Katipally Venkata Ramana(KVR)?
A businessman by profession, KVR began his political journey with Congress. He was made a member of the Mandal Parishad Territorial Council in the erstwhile Nizamabad district during the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) government in 2004. He subsequently went on to become a Zilla Parishad Territorial Council member and eventually served as Zilla Parishad chairperson.
Following the demise of Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR), the former chief minister of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, KVR began backing the BRS (formerly the TRS) during the 2014 assembly elections.
In anticipation of the 2018 assembly polls, KVR switched allegiance to the BJP amid allegations of conspiring to commit murder against a BRS worker. Subsequently, he gained support as a BJP leader and was actually recognized for addressing the needs of the people rather than merely offering financial assistance.
Also Read: Women And Rural Votes Changed The Fortunes Of The Congress In Telangana
What factors worked for BJP’s David in slaying the giants?
This year the BJP maintained continuity with the candidature of Katipally Venkata Ramana Reddy, who also contested in the 2018 elections, this time the factors that worked for the giant slayer were:
Firstly, the non-local status of both KCR and Revanth Reddy worked as an advantage for the BJP candidate and accessibility of KVR to the people gave an edge to the BJP. Also, KCR’s unclear motive to contest particularly from Kamareddi, created confusion among the voters.
Secondly, Revanth Reddy was also contesting from his home constituency Kodangal which is 209 km away from Kamareddi, whereas apart from Kamareddi, KCR was contesting from his current sitting constituency Gajwel, which is 74 km away from Kamareddi, in this scenario the BJP was successful in building the narrative that KCR’s or Revanth’s victory may necessitate a bypoll as both were contesting from other seats as well.
K Venkata Ramana Reddy, the man who defeated CM KCR and CM Candidate Revanth Reddy in Kamareddy. pic.twitter.com/lwuh08ti7X
— Satya (@YoursSatya) December 3, 2023
Thirdly, KVR had fought for the support of local farmers and is seen as a grassroot leader, who had been standing shoulder to shoulder with the farmers’ fight against the Kamareddy town draft master plan, which proposed to acquire about 2,000 acres of land in eight villages adjoining the town for development projects, including an outer ring road and industrial zone. Farmers of these villages wanted the government to look for barren lands instead of their agricultural lands. The agitation against the Kamareddi master city plan met with a success and just a few months ahead of the Assembly government, the plan was dropped by the BRS government in August this year.
Fourthly, KVR had the backing of the Mudiraj community, a significant population among the backward castes and also in a constituency with over 27,000 Muslim votes, a clear stance against the BJP was evident, but it seems the vote share got split between the Congress and BRS, eventually benefitting BJP.
Lastly, the anti-incumbency factor was high against the current sitting BRS MLA, Gampa Govardhan, who was facing strong opposition from the public for his inaccessibility to the masses during his five terms, since 2009. Gampa Gowardhan after winning on a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) ticket in 1994 and 2009, later grew stronger by winning the 2012, 2014, and 2018 elections as a BRS candidate also.
Comprehensively to sum up Katipally Venkata Ramana Reddy is sure to gain prominence now, for holding the BJP’s baton in the state, when even the towering name in Telangana BJP like Etela Rajender and Bandi Sanjay Kumar lost their battles. KVR’s display of confidence when he was challenged by his rivals, declaring his readiness to take political sanyas if defeated by KCR or Revanth Reddy in Kamareddi, is evidence of his capability to become the face of BJP in Telangana.
[…] Also Read: BJP’s David Who Slayed The Two Goliaths In Telangana […]