By-poll results beginning of end of Cong in AP: Ambati

Expressing confidence that Ysr Congress Party candidates for Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula Assembly constituencies YS Jaganmohan Reddy and YS Vijayalakshmi will win with the ‘highest majority’, party leader Ambati Rambabu on Monday said that these victories would be the ‘first verdict’ of the people on the injustice meted out to the family of former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy.

Talking to media persons at Sagar Society in Jubilee Hills, Mr Rambabu expressed confidence that both Mr Jaganmohan Reddy and Ms Vijayalakshmi would win with the ‘highest majority’ in Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula Assembly constituencies. “Mr Jaganmohan Reddy will win with a majority of over two lakh votes,” he predicted.

The YSR Congress leader further predicted that both the Congress party and Telugu Desam Party candidates will lose their deposits in the by-elections.

“They feared the ignominy of losing their deposits in the elections right through the campaigning itself. This made both Congress and TDP candidates to resort to mudslinging and leveling baseless charges against Kadapa district Collector Shasi Bhushan, immediately after polling ended,” Mr Rambabu said.

The YSR Congress leader further suggested that Congress candidate DL Ravindra Reddy get ready to renounce his worldly possessions and take refuge in Lord Venkateswara, since he would lose so badly in the by-elections.

Mr Rambabu further predicted that the by-election results will change the political scenario in the state and it would be the beginning of the end for the Congress party in Andhra Pradesh.

Condemning the alleged attack on media persons in Sunkesula by supporters of Dr Ravindra Reddy, he demanded the police arrest those responsible for the attack and act sternly to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.