Andhra Pradesh Panchayat polls: TDP suffers major defeat on Chandrababu Naidu's home turf

The ruling YSRCP has shown dominance in former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s pocket borough Kuppam in the third phase of Panchayat polls held on Wednesday.

Though the rural local body polls are held in a party-less manner officially, on the ground the elections are fought by the candidates supported by the political parties, which take this referendum prestigiously.

According to the Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy, out of the 89 Panchayats falling under the Kuppam constituency in Chittoor district, 75 seats were taken by YSRCP supported candidates. The TDP tally is the remaining 14 bodies.

The numbers reflect a reversal of the two parties’ position when compared to the 2013 poll results when TDP won 81 Panchayats.

Such is the hold Naidu has on Kuppam, lying at the tri-junction of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, that he went to the state Assembly from there for seven consecutive terms, beginning in 1989 and the latest in 2019.

The TDP’s rout in its chief’s bastion has let the YSRCP leaders question if Naidu would remain in electoral politics.

“Kuppam voters have endorsed the welfare-centric rule of Jaganmohan Reddy. Naidu should accept his defeat and start pondering about contesting from another constituency or leave politics altogether,” said Peddireddi.

The former CM has alleged large-scale distribution of inducement money for votes and atrocities on the TDP supporters.

“It is the democracy which is defeated in Kuppam, not me. I have been associated with Kuppam for 35 years and am considered a family member by the people there,” Naidu told reporters, alleging that the YSRCP is disturbing the peace and tranquillity of Kuppam.

Naidu also expressed discontent saying that the state election commission failed in acting on their complaints.

Minister Peddireddi said that YSRCP backed candidates have won 2,574 out of 3,221 Panchayats in the third phase elections, taking over 80% seats, followed by the TDP with 509 Panchayats translating to about 14%.