YSR Congress president Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy and his mother Vijayamma are heading for landslide victories in the byelections to Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula Assembly constituencies after the counting of votes crossed the half-way mark in Kadapa on Friday.
Both of them had established unasailable leads over their Congress and Telugu Desam Party rivals who are struggling to retain their security deposits.
At the end of the eighth round of counting, Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy had secured a massive lead of nearly 3.06 lakh votes over his nearest Congress rival, D. L. Ravindra Reddy, who is currently the Health Minister. Of an estimated 10.29 lakh votes polled, the counting of close to six lakh votes was completed.
Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy was way ahead by polling 4.06 lakh votes. Dr. Ravindra Reddy had so far polled around 99,000 votes while TDP's M. V. Mysoora Reddy, a Rajya Sabha member, was trailing in the third position with about 78,000 votes in his name.
It was a similar story in Pulivendula Assembly constituency where the widow of former Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy was surging ahead after every round of counting. At the end of the 13th round, Mrs. Vijayamma was ahead of her brother-in-law Y. S. Vivekananda Reddy by margin of over 50,000 votes while the TDP candidate M. Ravindranath Reddy was relegated to a poor third with just around 6,000 votes.
Celebrations began at the YSR Congress office in Hyderabad once it became clear that both candidates of the fledgling party were most likely to retain their seats with record margins.
PTI report adds:
Kadapa bypoll: Jagan leading by 3,60,000 votes
YSR Congress party chief Jagan Mohan Reddy and his mother Vijayalakshmi appeared to be heading for a landslide victory in the bye—elections to the prestigious Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula assembly constituencies in Andhra Pradesh.
Both were leading with substantial margins over their rivals in the counting of votes which was in progress.
Jagan was leading by about 3,60,000 votes over his nearest Congress rival and State Health Minister D L Ravindra Reddy after the end of 12th round of counting.
Vijayalakshmi was leading by about 27,000 votes over her brother—in—law Y S Vivekananda Reddy, who is the ruling Congress nominee after the end of seventh round of counting.
The results of Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula assembly seats would be out later in the day. Counting of votes for the bye—elections to these seats commenced this morning amid tight security.
Elaborate arrangements have been made for the counting in the seats from where Jagan and his mother, are seeking re—election after quitting Congress.
The polling for the two constituencies was held on May eight.
