Ichchapuram is an assembly constituency in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the seven assembly segments of Srikakulam Lok Sabha constituency. As of March 2019, there are a total of 246,228 electors in the constituency.
Ichchapuram has been a stronghold of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) since its formation in 1983. The TDP has won the seat nine times out of 11 elections held so far. The only exceptions were in 1989 and 2004, when the Congress won the seat. The TDP’s dominance in Ichchapuram is largely attributed to its founder and former Chief Minister NT Rama Rao’s popularity among the people, especially the backward classes and minorities.
The current MLA of Ichchapuram is Ashok Bendalam, who won the seat in 2019 by defeating his nearest rival Piriya Sairaj of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) by a margin of 15,402 votes. Bendalam secured 49.61% of the votes, while Sairaj got 41.02%. The Jana Sena Party (JSP) candidate Kandula Durgesh got 5.32% of the votes. The voter turnout was 83.85%.
However, the TDP’s hold on Ichchapuram may be under threat in the next elections in 2024. The YSRCP, led by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, has emerged as a formidable force in Andhra Pradesh after sweeping the 2019 elections. The YSRCP won 151 out of 175 assembly seats and 22 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The YSRCP has also been implementing several welfare schemes and development projects for the people, which may boost its popularity.
The YSRCP has also been trying to woo the voters of Ichchapuram by appointing Piriya Sairaj as the chairman of Andhra Pradesh State Warehousing Corporation (APSWC) in July 2019. Sairaj is a young leader who belongs to the influential Kalinga community, which has a significant presence in Ichchapuram. Sairaj is likely to be the YSRCP’s candidate again in 2024.
The JSP, led by actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan, may also play a spoiler role for the TDP in Ichchapuram. The JSP has a loyal fan base among some sections of voters, especially the youth and the Kapu community. The JSP may also join hands with the BJP or the TDP before the next elections, which may alter the political equations in Ichchapuram.
The TDP, on its part, will have to work hard to retain its bastion in Ichchapuram. The party will have to overcome its internal issues, such as defections and factionalism. The party will also have to counter the allegations of corruption and misgovernance levelled against it by the YSRCP and other parties. The party will have to highlight its achievements and promises for the people of Ichchapuram.
Ichchapuram assembly constituency is thus likely to witness a tough contest in 2024 between the TDP and the YSRCP, with the JSP as a potential kingmaker. The voters will have to choose between their old loyalty and their new aspirations.
