Much against the readings of political pundits, former Minister Mandali Buddha Prasad won the day in the end. He wrested the Avanigadda constituency, which he had lost to Ambati Brahmanaiah in 2009, of course, on a TDP ticket.
When Mr. Buddha Prasad joined the yellow bandwagon to contest from Avanigadda, political analysts felt that he was fighting the electoral battle with his back to the wall. But, Mr. Buddha Prasad earned his spur by drubbing his nearest rival and YSRC candidate Ramesh Simhadri with a margin of 5,958. He got 80,995 votes in his favour, while Mr. Ramesh Simhadri garnered 75,037.
Probably, Mr. Buddha Prasad is the lone defected Congress leader who was not rejected by the voters this election. Many senior Congress leaders, including former Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy, went down to defeat though they had switched loyalties to other parties.
Former Deputy Speaker Buragadda Vedavyas, who contested the election as YSRC candidate from Pedana also faced the defeat. Mr. Buddha Prasad won from Avanigadda in 1999 and 2004 polls as a Congress leader. His father Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao served as Avanigadda MLA from 1972 to 1985. The State bifurcation changed political equations in the State and Mr. Buddha Prasad called it quits and joined the TDP. For many, his joining the yellow brigade was unpalatable for he was known for his uprightness and values.
