Braving the scorching sun, children of YSR Congress leader Bhuma Shobha Nagi Reddy, the party’s candidate from Allagadda Assembly constituency who died recently in a road accident, are campaigning for their dead mother to make her the first Indian leader to win an election posthumously.
Bhuma Akhila Priya, Bhuma Mounika and Bhuma Jagat Vikhyat Reddy, children of the four-time MLA, are engaged in door-to-door campaign in the constituency, while their father Bhuma Nagi Reddy is campaigning in Nandyal, from where he is contesting the assembly elections.
Villagers who watch the motherless children campaign tirelessly, even as the wounds of the accidental death of one of Kurnool district’s outspoken leader is fresh, are ready to hug them and assure them that they would vote for their mother knowing full well that it would trigger a by-election.
Ironically Shobha died a day after her daughter withdrew her dummy nomination from the same seat.
Following the accident, which occurred when Shobha was on her way to Allagadda after a road show in Nandyal, and her subsequent death in Care hospital here, the Election Commission clarified that her name as the YSR Congress candidate will not be removed from the EVMs. Residual AP is going to polls on May 7.
“My grandchildren are asking people to vote for their mother as it will be a real tribute to their mom,” Shobha’s father and veteran political leader SV Subba Reddy said.
Kurnool may be known for political vengeance, but Shobha’s opponents are almost unanimous in not opposing her candidature though the TDP had raised objections.
Akhila Priya, Shobha’s eldest daughter, is confident that her mother will win with a margin of 1 lakh votes. “Voters miss her as we three do,” she says. In 2009 Shobha won with a margin of 80,000 votes in Allagadda which has 48 per cent women voters.
The children campaign five to six hours in the constituency daily, while their father joins them occasionally. Mounika Reddy, an engineering student, said that her father is equally committed to fulfill Shobha’s promises.
According to a State EC, votes polled for Shobha will be held valid under rule 64 of the conduct of elections rules act of 1961. She will be declared the winner if she gets the majority and simultaneously the Returning officer will prepare the grounds for a by-election.