Amid the gloomy results, the Congress party had something to cheer about as three of its first timers emerged victorious defeating TRS stalwarts including two Ministers.
Beeram Harshvardhan Reddy of the Congress defeated Panchayat Raj Minister Jupally Krishna Rao in Kollapur Assembly constituency. It was Mr. Reddy's maiden electoral victory and he came into limelight when he filed a series of cases in the High Court and the National Green Tribunal alleging environmental violations in the Palamur Ranga Reddy lift irrigation project.
In Khammam district, Roads and Buildings Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, a TRS heavyweight, suffered humilitating defeat in Palair constituency, when the Congress candidate K. Upender Reddy won by a slender margin of 1920 votes.
Another giant killer was Jajala Surender of the Congress in Yellareddy constituency where he humbled three-time TRS legislator Enugu Ravinder Reddy. It was memorable win for Mr. Surender, who contested his fourth election on different party tickets.
Jana Reddy tastes defeat
Congress Legislature Party leader in the dissolved Assembly Kunduru Jana Reddy tasted his second defeat in the political career. Mr. Reddy lost to one time Communist leader and present TRS candidate Nomula Narasimhaiah in Nagarjunasagar Assembly constituency. It was in 1994 that Mr. Jana Reddy lost to Ramamurthy Yadav from Chalakurthy Assembly constituency.
Till reports last came in, top Congress leaders A. Revanth Reddy, C. Damodar Raj Narasimha, J. Geeta Reddy, D. K. Aruna, Ponnam Prabhakar, Leader of the Opposition in Council Md. Ali Shabbir, former Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy, former Minister V.Sunitha Laxma Reddy, former APCC chief Ponnala Lakshmaiah were staring at defeat.
Congress candidate Podem Veeraiah inched close to victory in Bhadrachalam constituency, establishes decisive lead of 10,000 votes over TRS candidate TellamVenkat Rao.
However, TPCC chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy maintained slender lead over his nearest TRS rival Saidi Reddy. Senior Congress leaders Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy was leading in Munugode constituency while his brother Komatireddy Venkat Reddy was trailing in Nalgonda constituency.
With inputs from P.Sridhar (Khammam), P.Ram Mohan (Nizamabad)
Published - December 11, 2018 02:00 pm IST
