Jolt to Jagan in Andhra Pradesh as TDP stings YSRCP in Graduates MLC polls

AMARAVATI: A major embarrassment is in the offing for the YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh in the Graduates category of MLC elections. The opposition TDP is all set to deliver a stinging shock to the ruling party in two of the three seats with an unassailable lead after six rounds even as the two parties are running a stiff, close race for the third seat.

Elections were held recently for nine MLC seats under the local bodies, graduates and teachers constituencies. The YSRCP, which made a clean sweep in the local bodies MLC elections by winning all the four seats on Thursday, has managed to maintain the same winning streak in the Teachers MLC elections by bagging both the seats on Friday.

But the YSRCP received a rude jolt in the MLC elections under the Graduates constituencies where the voter mood was clearly against the ruling party. Adding insult to injury, the MLC elections for the Graduates constituencies signalled the resurgence of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the state with two of its candidates establishing unassailable leads in the fight for the North Andhra and East Rayalaseema constituencies.

In the counting of votes for the East Rayalaseema constituency, TDP candidate Kancharla Srikanth is forging ahead with a clear lead of 23,068 votes at the end of six rounds. Similarly, TDP’s Vepada Chiranjeeva Rao has established a stunning lead of 23,278 votes over his nearest rival of the YSRCP after the sixth round. As per the popular perception, only a miracle can now stop the two TDP nominees from winning their respective seats.

An unexpected tight race ensuing in the third seat, the West Rayalaseema Constituency, is adding to the YSRCP’s woes and keeping its top leadership on the tenterhooks. YSRCP’s Vennapusa Ravindra Reddy is marginally ahead with a slender lead of 2,019 votes over his nearest rival from the TDP Bhumireddy Ramgopal Reddy after six rounds of counting. While Ravindra Reddy secured 56,110 votes, Ramgopal Reddy received 54,101 votes. With a few more rounds to go, the result is expected to go either way given the close contest between both the parties. This has particularly turned out to be the most disconcerting news for the YSRCP given the fact that YSRCP chief and Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s Kadapa district also falls under the West Rayalaseema MLC constituency.