Seelam capture Jagan Dalit vote bank
With the induction of Jesu Dasu Seelam (J.D.Seelam), is the second SC (Mala) community member and also second minister from Prakasam district, next to Panabaka Lakshmi.
A two-time member of Rajya Sabha, Seelam hails from Pusuluru village in Pedanandipadu, part of Prathipadu (SC) Assembly constituency. He had lost to D Ramanaidu in 1999 with 90,000 votes from Bapatla. Dalits particularly the Mala sub sect are the traditional vote bank of the Congress
His elevation is now termed as a ploy to woo the Dalit Christians who were making a beeline to YSRC of YS Jagan. The credit for the conceptualization of SC/ ST Sub-Plan goes to him rather than Kiran Kumar Reddy. Seelam got the draft done under guidance of congress vice president Rahul Gandhi. His proximity to Gandhi family is well known as an dalit campaigner .
With the YSR Congress Party steadily seeping into the community vote bank in villages, the Congress has set its eyes on regaining the lost ground after the party’s candidate lost his deposit in the Prathipadu (SC) by poll in 2012.