By-polls in AP

By-polls in AP

By-polls to 18 assembly constituencies in Andhra Pradesh apparently dragged the attention of the national media. The seventeen assembly constituencies in Andhra region and one assembly constituency in Telangana region gained much momentum. Everyone was anxious as to who would win and who would lose. It was more or less a cold war between Congress and YSR Congress as most of the seats, for which elections took place, fell vacant only after Congress MLAs joined YSRC and got disqualified.

Congress and YSRC crossed swords while TDP and TRS got good opportunity to draw the seats. TRS, on a border line managed to win Parakala seat while TDP lost deposits in many places and failed to draw even a single seat. CPI didn't take part in the voting but extended its support to TDP in 17 constituencies and TRS in Parakala.

Congress and YSRC fielded 18 members in all 18 constituencies. The voting took place on June 12 and 79.79 per cent voting was recorded. The counting of votes took place on June 15 at 13 counting centres across 12 districts where the by-polls took place. YSRC party emerged victorious in the elections by winning 15 seats out of 18, while two seats were won by Congress, thanks to Chiranjeevi as the constituencies in which Congress won apparently voted only because of Chiranjeevi as Congress banked there on kapu votes. The remaining one seat was won by TRS in Parakala.

Congress accepted the defeat and said that sentiment factor played a big role in by-polls. It may be noted that Jaganmohan Reddy was arrested by CBI in the last week of May that apparently made YSRC get sympathy votes if we have to go by observers. All in all, by-polls in Andhra Pradesh this year gained enough momentum.