AMARAVATI: The ruling TDP-Jana Sena-BJP alliance is headed for a sweeping victory in Andhra Pradesh’s municipal and corporation elections, with counting on Tuesday showing its candidates ahead in nearly every urban body. By evening, the alliance was leading in 12 of the 13 corporations and had won 60 of the 87 municipalities, dealing a heavy blow to the opposition YSRCP.
Alliance mayoral candidates hold clear leads in the major corporations of Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur, Tirupati, Nellore, Kadapa and Machilipatnam. TDP’s Mannem Srinivasa Prasad in Tirupati, Kathari Hemalatha in Chittoor and Kovelamudi Lakshmi Aparna in Guntur are considered certain winners. In Visakhapatnam, TDP candidate Mukka Sravani is ahead by 2 lakh votes.
Among municipalities, the biggest surprise came in Pulivendula, the home constituency of the YSRCP chief, which the TDP captured. TDP candidates also won Narsipatnam, Palakonda, Jaggayyapeta, Tadipatri, Proddatur, Punganur and Palamaner. Alliance partner Jana Sena won Tenali, Narasapuram, Samalkot and Madakasira, while the BJP took Gudur, Yerraguntla and Yelamanchili.
The YSRCP has so far managed to win only the Nandikotkur municipality. Counting is still under way, but the trend is unmistakable. Political analysts say the results reflect strong public support for the ruling alliance in urban areas.