Andhra Pradesh MLC Election Results 2017: Setback for YSR Congress chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy as uncle Vivekananda Reddy loses in Kadapa

Vivekananda Reddy, uncle of YSR Congress chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy, lost in the Andhra Pradesh MLC elections 2017.

Hyderabad, Mar 20: Vivekananda Reddy, uncle of YSR Congress chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy, lost in the Andhra Pradesh MLC elections 2017. The Andhra Pradesh MLC election results 2017 were declared today. Vivekananda Reddy was defeated by the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) candidate B Ravi in local authorities constituency in Kadapa. Vivekananda Reddy’s defeat is a big blow to YSR Congress chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy as Kadapa is considered the stronghold of his father and late Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy and family.

Vivekananda Reddy, who is the younger brother of YS Rajasekhara Reddy, lost to TDP’s B Ravi by 34 votes in Kadapa. Vivekananda was elected twice to the Lok Sabha from Kadapa constituency, twice to the state assembly from Pulivendula,and once to the state legislative council from Kadapa Local Authorities Constituency (LAC). The defeat is not only a shock for Vivekananda, but also for the main opposition party YSR Congress and YS Jaganmohan Reddy.

The TDP had clean sweep in Andhra Pradesh MLC elections 2017, winning all nine seats at stake from the LACs. The ruling party, which won six seats unanimously, was locked in a contest with the YSR Congress in Kadapa, Kurnool and Nellore, the districts where the opposition party has considerable number of local public representatives. The elections for three seats were held on March 17 and the counting was taken up on Monday.

In Kurnool, the TDP’s district party president and sitting legislative council member Shilpa Chakrapani Reddy defeated the YSR Congress’ Gouru Venkat Reddy by 56 votes. In Nellore, the TDP’s sitting legislative council member Vakati Narayana Reddy trounced Anam Vijay Kumar Reddy of the YSR Congress by 87 votes.

Celebrations broke out in the TDP circles. TDP leaders congratulated party’s national president and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu. The TDP’s Andhra Pradesh unit President Kala Venkat Rao said the results reflect the functioning of the TDP government. He remarked that Kadapa got “independence” with the TDP’s victory and said the district would now march on the path of progress.

Jaganmohan Reddy alleged that Chandrababu Naidu resorted to undemocratic means of “buying” local public representatives to win the legislative council polls. He recalled that Naidu was caught red-handed while “buying” an assembly member’s vote in the legislative council elections in Telangana in 2015. (With agency inputs)