Kuppam has been a stronghold for the TDP since it was established in 1983. No other party has ever won there except the TDP.
From 1989 until the last elections, TDP leader N. Chandrababu Naidu won seven times in a row. This time, TDP aimed to win by a majority of 100,000 votes, while the ruling YCP was determined to defeat him.
Both the Nara and Nandamuri families campaigned extensively in Kuppam to support Naidu.
Naidu appointed party MLC Srikanth as the campaign in-charge, a young member of the party.
The YCP nominated Bharat, from the BC community, to challenge Naidu. YCP leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy even promised Bharat a Cabinet position if he won.
The YCP also ensured that water from the Handri-Neeva project reached Kuppam before the elections and promised to complete the Palaru project as well.
Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, one of Jagan’s trusted aides, was put in charge of political affairs in the constituency.
This time, a record voter turnout of 90% was recorded in Kuppam. Out of 225,775 voters, nearly 202,920 cast their votes.
Naidu visited the constituency three times in six months, which was unusual.
In the last elections, Naidu won by 30,722 votes. In previous elections, his victory margins were 47,121 votes in 2014, 46,055 in 2009, 59,588 in 2004, 56,588 in 1999, and 6,918 in 1989.
With both the ruling and opposition parties making strong efforts in the same constituency, it remains to be seen who will emerge victorious in Kuppam.