Interview: Pithapuram YSRCP candidate Vanga Geetha talks strategy against JSP Pawan, focus on welfare

Pithapuram: AP State Assembly elections in 2024 will witness political heavyweights of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and the Jana Sena Party (JSP) engage in a fierce and high-stakes electoral battle in Pithapuram.

This is because the JSP chief Pawan Kalyan is contesting from this constituency, which is dominated by the Kapu community. However, the YSRCP is also fielding Vanga Geetha, a Kapu leader and the sitting MP for Kakinada as an MLA candidate from Pithapuram this term.

Geetha began her political career with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1993 and later joined the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP). In 2009 she won as an MLA from the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). In 2014, Geetha stayed away from contesting the elections following the bifurcation of the state. In 2019, Geetha joined the YSRCP and won as an MP from Kakinada.

In an exclusive interview with the NewsMeter, Vanga Geetha shared her plans for securing victory as an MLA from Pithapuram and developing the constituency as an educational, medical and tourism hub in the state.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

NM: What are your strengths in fighting your opponent Pawan Kalyan? How much of a majority are you expecting in the constituency?

Geetha: As a seasoned politician in this constituency with a personal connection to every segment of the populace, I believe each person has their capabilities. Any candidate’s chances of winning in Pithapuram depend heavily on their availability and accessibility. People have trusted me and my devotion since the beginning of my political career because I am very approachable.

Previously, as a representative for the Pithapuram seat, I founded several government offices, a district court, a state hotel management institute, a government polytechnic college, government degree college buildings and other institutions. Me and my opponent Pawan Kalyan are also from the Kapu community. The people in the constituency have already determined my majority based on my accessibility and awareness of the public concern.

NM: How is the response from people to your electioneering? Why do you think people of the constituency will give their mandate to you?

Geetha: I’m getting very positive feedback for my election campaign throughout the constituency, from women to senior citizens. People from all walks of life have been connected to the welfare initiatives initiated by chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, particularly the impoverished and lower middle-class segments. People started to affiliate with YS Jagan because the YSRCP government disbursed all welfare initiatives through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and non-DBT.

In addition to his work on welfare, YS Jagan concentrated on a number of development projects. For example, the revolutionary reforms brought by YS Jagan in the education sector also include the renovation of government hospitals and schools under the Nadu-Nedu scheme which has received positive feedback from all facets of society. I have been with the people through thick and thin for the past five years. Above all, my genuine efforts to make sure the YSRCP government implements the social initiatives will give me a clean mandate in the upcoming Assembly elections.

NM: What is your campaign strategy?

Geetha: I am pursuing a wide range of strategies to explain the welfare measure take up by the YSRCP government and counter the baseless remarks being made by my Pawan Kalyan. My cadre is suggesting I pursue better ideas to reach out to the people. So far, I conducted door-to-door campaigns in almost 52 villages in the constituency. I am considering coming up with a new strategy to cover the remaining villages in the constituency and a route map is being prepared for a padayatra to cover the distant parts.

NM: Can you elaborate on the development projects taken up during your tenure as Kakinada MP?

Geetha: With the backing of YS Jagan and the Central government, the Kakinada Parliamentary constituency has undoubtedly seen a comprehensive improvement during the last five years. We must first discuss the founding of Kakinada as it gave rise to several industries that employ thousands of people in two or three constituencies. In the past, people travelled to Rajahmundry to use the hospital services provided by ESI. It is a significant accomplishment for me as an MP that I was able to bring about a 100-bed ESI hospital with an estimated cost of Rs 150 crores through an appeal from the Central government. My priority is to revamp the education and health sector. The alumni of Rangaraya Medical College came forward and extended Rs 30 crores as a CSR initiative to provide amenities and establish a mother and a child care unit and Cath lab at the Government General Hospital.

For the first time in Andhra Pradesh, a 50-bedded integrated Ayush hospital is being established at an estimated cost of Rs 15 crores in Kakinada. A permanent building for Kendriya Vidyalaya with Rs 25 crores and Rs 50 crores has been sanctioned for the development of the sanctum sanctorum of Annavaram temple under the PRASAD scheme. This same goes for urban health centres, and post office buildings in Annavaram, Pithapuram and Peddapuram. Six NEET exams have been sanctioned in the constituency along with the establishment of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) at Pithapuram with Rs 300 crores and others.

NM: What is your agenda to develop Pithapuram?

Geetha: With numerous temples located in the constituency, Pithapuram has developed into a spiritual hub with a rich history and culture over the years. A proposal to promote temple tourism is now in the works. The constituency already has a number of existing educational institutions, and a few more will be added after receiving approval from the Centre and the State.

Sea erosion at Uppada is a significant issue that the constituency is also plagued by; the Prime Minister’s Office has already been made aware of the issue and is monitoring it. In order to reduce unemployment in the constituency, initiatives to construct skill development centres and a variety of sectors, such as food processing and paddy, are being considered. These initiatives are intended to support job opportunities for the youth of the area.

Major corporations have the opportunity to develop their facilities in the 2,000-acre Special Economic Zone (SEZ) near Pithapuram. Rejuvenating irrigation projects, such as modernising Yeluru upstream, is vital for farmers. Pithapuram is also on the tail end of the area where the drains should be streamlined and the extra water from the upstream discharged straight into the sea to save the constituency’s agricultural areas.

- With inputs from Sri Lakshmi Muttevi