Much blood has been spilt on the dry soil of Jammalamadugu. Country-made bombs and firearms were put to use almost every day to settle scores. Some 100 people have lost lives in the long-standing feud between the families of two political leaders, Adinarayana Reddy and Ramasubba Reddy, as they fought for supremacy in the region.
Things, however, took a different turn a while ago. In the last assembly election, Adinarayana, a chemistry teacher, was with the YSR Congress Party and Ramasubba, an engineer, with the Telugu Desam Party. Adinarayana comfortably beat Ramasubba. Then, TDP supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu convinced them to bury the hatchet, and Adinarayana crossed over from YSRCP to TDP and even became a minister. This time, Naidu gave him the Kadapa parliament ticket and Ramasubba the Jammalamadugu assembly ticket.
Many people in Jammalamadugu, however, are not happy about the union. “Do you know how many people died on both sides? Around 100. Many more are in jail and many families have suffered. All this only because they were loyal to their leaders. One fine day they cannot become friends and tell everyone to forget whatever has happened. We are not able to digest this,” said a close aide of one of the politicians, who did not wish to be named.
The leaders had absolute control over many villages, and such places were no-go zones for the rival faction. Even the police and the media were cautious about venturing into these territories. “All these days, we were with one leader and one party,” said Rajaiah, 56, who runs a store in Pedhadandulur village, a stronghold of one of the leaders. “Now they want us to accept our enemy as our leader. How can we vote for him? My conscience won’t allow. These leaders might have got sold for money. If that is the case, then tell us openly.”
Some women even questioned the leaders about their alliance. A woman showed her hands to the two leaders, when they were campaigning together, and told them that she was not wearing bangles because of them. “She was a widow. Her husband died for one of the leaders,” said a reporter working for a regional channel.
Some people, however, are relieved that the union has put an end to the violence that plagued the region for decades. Jagan Mohan Reddy, 30, was just an infant when he lost a few family members in an attack by the opposite group in 1989. A year later, his entire village was burnt down. Later, on a festival day, five members of his family were hacked to death. About a decade later, his father and uncle were killed. To avenge these killings, his brother participated in a deadly attack on the opposite group in 2010. He still remembers that day. “I was preparing for the entrance exams. I got to know about the attack from my mother. But I was made one of the accused. For the next five years I spent my time in courts and is trying to cool down the opposite group,” he said.
He got his name cleared, and has been busy with farming and social work in his village. “Factional violence has greatly disturbed our lives,” he said. “We live in poverty. I always wanted to go for post graduation in chemistry, but I had to stop my studies because of court cases. I was even given two gunmen by the police as they feared that I would be targeted. I had to compromise on my freedom.”
Jagan, who cultivates millets, is glad that the two leaders have made peace. “People who are unhappy or who want the enmity to continue are the ones who have not seen violence closely. I did. I know how it feels. I am just hoping that there is no more violence in this area,” he said.
The two Reddys, however, have a new challenger. The YSRCP candidate in Jammalamadugu is Sudhir Reddy, a young surgeon. He also hails from a political family and has been finding support among the disgruntled villagers. This has redrawn the political equations in this constituency.