Coalition party leaders celebrate the announcement of a new district status for Madanapall,e on Wednesday. | Photo credit: ARRANGEMENT
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s green signal to create Madanapalle district, carved out of Annamayya and Chittoor parts, has created sudden heat in Rayalaseema’s political and administrative circles. Although the move is officially planned as an initiative to improve governance, it is widely seen as a strategic shift in power equations in the region.
At the heart of the proposed reshuffle, the politically sensitive Punganur Assembly constituency, a stronghold of senior YSR Congress (YSRCP) leader and former minister Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy, remains a key player.
The six Punganur mandals – Punganur, Chowdepalle, Sadum, Somala, Rompicharla and Pulicharla – to be regrouped into the new Madanapalle district, is seen among the public and political circles as directly crushing Peddireddi’s influence in the region where he has long remained a formidable force. A section of YSRCP leaders view the formation of Madanapalle district as a deliberate attempt to undermine entrenched political influence ahead of the unfolding realignments at the state level.
On the other hand, the announcement unleashed long suppressed aspirations among local people, especially farmers. Madanapalle revenue division is the most active horticulture center in the state, with tomatoes being the backbone of the agricultural economy of the region. Regular price slumps, poor market linkages and inadequate infrastructure have been destroying farmers’ fortunes for years. According to the horticulture official, the status of the district could finally push the state to invest in cooling networks, transport connectivity and agricultural facilities.
Madanapalla’s traditional handloom and weaving industry is expected to get a new lease of life once the district status comes into force. Activists of the Madanapalle Jilla Sadhana Porata Samithi said the city’s colonial-era buildings, existing institutional base and established urban network are better prepared for the functioning of the district headquarters.
Madanapalle’s proximity to Bengaluru and key areas like Kolar, Chintamani, Tumkur and Chikkaballapur on the Karnataka border adds weight to the district’s status. Better connectivity and administrative presence could boost interstate trade, the movement of skilled workers, and create new economic corridors. The region’s position as a gateway to tourist destinations like Horsley Hills and Nandi Hills near Kolar also offers potential for job creation and entrepreneurship if the tourism sector is prioritized, BT College of Education, Madanapalle said.
However, there is also skepticism from certain public and political circles. A senior Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader alleged that the earlier Andhra Pradesh constituency exercise was marred by hasty execution, poor office infrastructure and unduly delayed deployment of personnel. This led to fears that Madanapalle could become another “paper district”.
The youth and political newcomers, on the other hand, are rejoicing that the recalibration will surely give room to new leaders from Madanapalle, Piler, Punganur and Thamballapalle assembly constituencies to challenge the decades-old concentration of political power and influence.
Published – 26 Nov 2025 18:56 IST
