YSR Congress sets a new trend
The YSR Congress’ victory in Kovur bypolls by a handsome margin has again demonstrated the party’s ability to win elections despite spending much less than its rivals, according to political observers.
While the party had earlier won amid similar circumstances in Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula Assembly bypolls, critics of the party chief, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, had dismissed the results as a direct result of sympathy his father, Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, enjoyed. Both constituencies are considered the family’s stronghold.
At Kovur this time, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy is said to have spent much less on canvassing compared to Congress nominee Mr D.L. Ravindra Reddy. In fact, party leaders pointed out, some legislators who had earlier pledged support to Mr Jagan Mohan switched sides recently, disappointed over the meagre spending. Ruling Congress and Telugu Desam leaders also acknowledged privately that a repeat of Kadapa in Kovur bypolls is an aspect to be watched out for.
“It is an open secret that the Congress spent the most to woo voters, followed by TD. Mr Prasanna Kumar Reddy, the YSR Congress candidate, spent not even a fifth of that,” a senior minister who campaigned in Kovur said. Elated, YSR Congress leaders said Wednesday’s results have also helped wipe away Mr Jagan’s image as an arrogant man. According to political observers, votes bagged by YSR Congress candidate also indicated that the party could pull votes not only from the Congress, where the family draws its political origins from, but even the Telugu Desam.
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