Rohit Vemula’s Friend To Contest From Parchur
Hyderabad: With no cash in hand or assets in any form, BSP's candidate from Parchur and Rohith Vemula's friend Pedapudi Vijay Kumar’s nomination has certainly hogged the limelight.
He will be contesting from Parchur constituency in Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh and is the poorest candidate to fight elections in cash-rich Andhra Pradesh.
Vijay owns no land, has no cash in hand, no investments or deposits, has not taken any loan till date and owns no motor vehicle or jewellery, according to an affidavit he filed with the Election Commission.
Currently pursuing his PhD in political science from the University of Hyderabad (UoH), Vijay is a native of Muppalla village in Prakasam district. He is also the president of Ambedkar Students’ Association, Andhra Pradesh unit.
From the SC Mala community, Vijay was one of the four students who was expelled along with Rohith Vemula in December 2015, for allegedly assaulting the then ABVP president of UoH – Nandam Susheel Kumar.
Following the incident, the five students were expelled from the varsity along with various social restrictions, which led to the unfortunate incident of Rohith committing suicide on January 17, 2016.
Following his death, Vijay had led the movement 'Justice for Rohith' along with ASA students. He had also contested for the president's post in the varsity election but could not win. In Paruchur, he will be pitted against TDP's sitting MLA Y Sambasiva Rao, who is seeking re-election, the YSRCP's Daggubati Venkateshwara Rao, husband of BJP’s D Purandeswari, who are his principal contenders. Vijay’s contest is more symbolic in nature as he is not expected to win.
Andhra Pradesh goes for simultaneous assembly and parliamentary elections on April 11. The BSP has formed an alliance with the Pawan Kalyan led Jana Sena Party. The alliance also includes CPI and CPI-M. Of the 175 assembly seats and 25 parliamentary seats, the BSP would be contesting 21 assembly and three MP seats. YSRCP leaders have pointed a finger at Pawan Kalyan for trying to split the anti-TDP vote which would otherwise go the YSRCP way. This strategy by the Jana Sena founder is aimed at helping the TDP, they have observed.
