Defectors had a last laugh this election. The people voted for many Congress leaders who switched their loyalties to Telugu Desam or YSR Congress. Notwithstanding, there are few bigwigs who bit the dust.
Staunch integrationist Mandali Buddha Prasad won from Avanigadda Assembly constituency though he parted ways with Congress and joined hands with TDP. Kolusu Parthasarathy, who continued to be Minister in the State Cabinet till the fag end, faced the wrath of public. His strategy to join YSR Congress party did not work.
In Vizianagaram district, Congress leader Geetha Meesala won from Vizianagaram Assembly constituency after she joined TDP. P. Anjaneyulu, a former Congress leader, also won from Bhimavaram Assembly constituency in West Godavari district as a TDP candidate. Pithani Satyanarayana is the lone former Congress minister to win from Achanta Assembly constituency. He deserted Congress after its decision to bifurcate the State.
Thota Narasimhmam, former Congress leader won from Kakinada Lok Sabha in East Godavari district as TDP candidate. Another Congress leader Thota Trimurtulu, who joined the TDP, won from Ramachandrapuram Assembly constituency. Gollapalli Surya Rao, who switched loyalties to TDP, won from Razole Assembly constituency in East Godavari district.
Congress MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao succeeded in retaining his Narsaraopet Lok Sabha seat though he joined TDP, in Guntur district.
In contrary, Ongole sitting Congress MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy lost election. He contested on TDP ticket. Sitting MLAs B.N.Vijaykumar (Santhanuthalapadu) and Anna Rambabu (Giddalur), who had joined the TDP on the poll eve, bit the dust.
However, sitting MLAs Gottipati Ravikumar (Addanki) and A. Suresh (Yerragondapalem), who now contested from Santhanutalapadu on the YSR Congress ticket won the election.
Former District Congress President Pothula Rama Rao who also joined the YSRC on the poll eve, won from Kandukur defeating TDP constituency in-charge Divi Sivaram. But the sitting MLA from Darsi Buchepalli Sivaprasad Reddy who got the YSRC ticket this time, lost to TDP nominee Sidda Raghava Rao.
Sitting Chirala MLA and former District Congress president Amanchi Krishnamohan, who quit the ruling Congress in protest against bifurcation of the State, got re-elected as an Independent candidate.
