Pulivendula witnessed a political shock as the recent ZPTC by-election ended in a stunning defeat for YSR Congress. Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy could not ensure victory for his party’s candidate in his home constituency, which has long been considered a stronghold.
In the election held on the 12th of this month, a total of 11 candidates contested, but TDP’s Mareddy Latha Reddy secured a landslide win. She defeated her nearest rival Hemanth Reddy of YSR Congress by a massive majority of 6,033 votes. Hemanth Reddy’s poor performance saw him losing his deposit with just 683 votes.
YSR Congress has been trying to justify the loss by alleging rigging. Party leaders claimed that the defeat was not due to declining popularity but because of unfair practices. They even approached the High Court seeking a re-election with Central Forces, but the court refused to intervene in the matter.
The party then wrote to the State Election Commission requesting CCTV footage, webcasting details, and records from the Returning Officers. However, a key point is that local body elections in Andhra Pradesh are conducted by the State Election Commission, not the Central Election Commission. The State Election Commissioner Nilam Sawhney, appointed by Jagan Mohan Reddy himself, is currently in charge.
Nilam Sawhney, known for her close association with Jagan, was even granted extensions as chief secretary during his tenure. Since the post is constitutional, she cannot be removed even if the government changes. This means the Chandrababu Naidu-led government has no option but to continue with her.
This situation leaves YSR Congress with little ground to complain, as the election was overseen by their own appointee. The party’s attempt to discredit the process only highlights its struggle to accept the verdict. The Pulivendula defeat is not a narrow loss but a humiliating rejection from the people.
Despite various welfare schemes being rolled out by the government, the voters chose to support TDP. Many residents who had not participated in elections for decades were able to vote freely this time, adding to the scale of the victory. This outcome shows that public sentiment remains firmly against YSR Congress in Pulivendula.
The party now faces a critical moment of introspection. Blaming EVMs or raising rigging allegations will not help them understand why they failed. Unless they acknowledge the ground reality, YSR Congress risks facing more such setbacks in future elections.
