Jagan drubs Cong, sweeps AP bypolls

Jaganmohan Reddy’s YSR Congress (YSRC) registered a landslide victory in the Andhra Pradesh by-elections, riding on the rigorous campaigning by his mother and sister and the public sympathy garnered over his dramatic arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation midway through the campaign.

The YSR Congress triumphed in 15 of the 18 Assembly segments that went to the polls, apart from the Nellore Lok Sabha seat where YSRC candidate and incumbent Parliamentarian Mekapati Rajmohan Reddy won, by comfortable margins.

The Congress’ bad run continued, with the party winning only the Narasapuram and Ramachandrapuram seats in the East Godavari district.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi won the Parakal Assembly seat in Warangal district. Chandrababu Naidu’s Telegu Desum Party drew a blank. Soon after the results were announced, Jaganmohan’s mother Vijayamma and sister Sharmila Reddy visited the YSRC chief at the Chanchalguda prison. “It is God’s gift and people’s victory,” Vijayamma told reporters outside the prison, while Sharmila described the success as “victory of Jagan’s diehard campaign and belief in father’s policies.”
Campaigning clicks

The mother-daughter duo embarked on heavy duty campaigning after former Kadapa MP Jagan was arrested by the central investigative agency on May 27 in a disproportionate wealth case.
The by-elections turned out to be a dud for the Telugu Desam Party despite Naidu’s hectic campaigning.

“It is shocking that loyal voters of the Telugu Desam Party in Prathipadu and Macherla also deserted the party,” said Yanamala Ramakrishnudu of the party.