By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, April 17, 2014: Young guns and techies are in the poll fray
from various assembly and Lok Sabha segments across North Andhra. US educated, TD senior leader K Yerran Naidu’s
son, Ram Mohan Naidu, 28, is contesting for Srikakulam Lok Sabha on a TD
ticket.
Former Congress MP, late Gudivada Gurunadha Rao’s son,
Gudivada Amar who is also just 28 is in the poll fray for Anakapalle Lok
Sabha.
An IIT Chennai graduate, Lokula Gandhi, 35,
is contesting from Paderu assembly segment, reserved for STs, on a BJP
ticket.
A London based
NRI, Chandrasekhar Buddha, who developed vision document for the new state is
also contesting as an independent candidate for Vizag Lok Sabha.
An MBA graduate from the Long Island University, USA,
Ram Mohan Naidu, did his schooling in Delhi
Public School, R K Puram, New Delhi. He was spotted
taking a prominent place in the grand meeting organised in Vizag to mark
the conclusion of TD chief N Chandrababu Naidu’s ‘epic’ padayatra,
‘Vastunna Meekosam’ in last April.
Though politics was in his blood, Naidu had to take plunge
into politics at a very early age to continue his father TD strong man Yerran
Naidu’s legacy. “Politics has been always on my mind but never thought I will
get into it so early. I will continue the good work my father has begun and
want to see Chandrababu Naidu, who is a visionary, as AP chief minister to
develop the new state,” said Ram Mohan Naidu. He has been doing ground work in
Srikakulam since his father’s untimely death in Nov 2012.
Gudivada Amarnath, 28, was a surprise pick by the party
chief Jagan to contest from Anakapalle Lok Sabha segment. At 21 he was elected
as corporator on TD ticket. Later miffed with former minister Ganta Srinivas
Rao and other Congress MLAs, joining TD, Amarnath along with his mother,
Nagamani, joined YSR Congress. Jagan chose him to contest from Anakapalle.
Amar, holds a B Tech degree.
“I want to continue the good work and legacy of my father. I
will ensure that Anakapalle witness some development. Am quiet confident that
if am elected we can do some best work under the leadership of Jagan who is
also young and dynamic. We will all work together for the development of the
state, which is possible only by YSRC and Jagan.” said Amarnath.
Anakapalle was once represented by Amar’s father Gurunatha
Rao. Interestingly, fight for Anakapalle Lok Sabha, will be between Guru and
Sishya. Amar studied B Tech at Avanti engineering college owned by TD Lok Sabha
candidate Mutamsetti Srinivas Rao.
A mechanical engineer from IIT Chennai, Lokula Gandhi,
hailing from, a remote Sarabanapalem village coming under Koyyuru Mandal, in
Vizag Agency, had no interest in joining politics. On the locals request he
took a plunge into politics. He quit a lucrative job with Kuwait
government and now contesting from Paderu Assembly segment on a BJP ticket.
Before entering politics, he was into social service and charity through ‘Thodu
charitable trust’. Going abroad was also never on his mind. But, after spending
10 years in India, after
coming out of IIT Chennai, he had flown to Kuwait to earn enough money to fund
his Trust.
“I know the living
conditions and standards in Vizag Agency tracts. Am not saying that I can
change everything overnight, but there should be some initiative. Somebody
should begin at some point. Agency areas need better schools, hospitals and
many other basic facilities,” said Lokula Gandhi, son of a farmer.
Former CEO of, HiJobs, Chandrasekhar Buddha, now runs
New World Software based in Banglore. Though he initially started the software
firm in Vizag he had to shift it to Banglore due to power cuts, which he says
mirrors the underdevelopment of the city.
“My personal opinion is to vote for some local candidate who
wishes to develop the region as for the past 25 years no local candidate has
won from Vizag. Non locals who don’t have any attachment with the land here
have ruined the beautiful city. Otherwise by now, city would have overtaken
many other so called big cities in the country,” said the techie entrepreneur.
He also prepared a
Vision 2020 document for Vizag’s development and filed nomination for Vizag Lok
Sabha as an independent candidate.