TDP wins ZPTC bypoll in Jagan's family bastion of Pulivendula, YSRCP says polls rigged

Hyderabad: For the first time in decades, the ruling TDP in Andhra Pradesh has successfully breached the family stronghold of YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy by winning the Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) by-election in Pulivendula, Kadapa district.

The TDP also secured victory in the Vontimitta ZPTC, marking a significant political shift in the region. The by-election results, announced Thursday following Tuesday's polling, represent a major breakthrough for the TDP in what has long been considered unassailable YSRCP territory.

Pulivendula holds deep personal significance for Jagan Mohan Reddy as his home constituency, where his family has maintained an unbroken political legacy spanning over four decades.

Jagan family's dominance in Pulivendula dates back more than 40 years, with both Jagan's father, the late YS Rajasekhara Reddy, and his mother, YS Vijay Lakshmi, winning the Pulivendula Assembly segment multiple times throughout their political careers.

The bypoll was necessitated following the death of YSRCP leader T Maheshwar Reddy in February 2023. TDP candidate Mareddy Latha Reddy, wife of former MLC and TDP Pulivendula in-charge Mareddy Ravindra Reddy popularly known as BTech Ravi defeated YSRCP's T Hemanth Reddy by a substantial margin of over 6,035 votes.

In Pulivendula, the YSRCP candidate lost the security deposit by securing only 683 votes in the bypolls. There were 11 contestants in the fray.

In Vontimitta TDP candidate Muddu Krishna Reddy emerged winner securing 12,780 votes, while YSRCP candidate Subba Reddy polled 6,513 votes.

However, YSRCP alleged that TDP won the by elections by rigging. YSRCP has ridiculed the way ZPTC elections were held.

Former minister Perni Nani said non-local TDP workers were allowed to vote in the presence of district collector Cherukuri Sridhar, which defines the conduct of bypolls and the sanctity of democracy.

Police were used as a shield to safeguard TDP interests, and there was no answer to the pointed question of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on how voters from other areas were allowed to vote in the by-elections.

The re-poll in two places was conducted as planned to avoid further scrutiny, and TDP has once again proved that it has no belief in democracy and fair means of elections. The anarchy of TDP was in the open at Pulivendula, and the TDP propaganda machinery played up the lies and deception in its usual style, he said.

TDP leaders from the neighbouring Jammalamadugu, Kamalapuram, and Proddutur rigged the elections, and the absence of women in the queue was an indication of this pattern, he said, questioning what Chandrababu Naidu achieved by winning the bypoll.

Progress over backwardness

Meanwhile, IT minister Nara Lokesh said that the people of of Pulivendula and Vontimitta have chosen progress over backwardness. “For the first time in 30 years, Pulivendula has taken part in a truly democratic election process and the people have had the chance to cast their vote freely. Congratulations to Latha Reddy and Krishna Reddy on their well-earned victory. My heartfelt thanks to the people for turning out in large numbers to support our candidates,” Lokesh said.