The bitter and acrimonious electioneering for the high stake by-election to Nandyal Assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh ended on Monday.
The votes will be polled on Wednesday. High voltage election campaign was marked by no-hold barred attack by the two main rival campaigners Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and leader of Opposition and YSR Congress Party YS Jaganmohan Reddy.
The by-election caused by the death of sitting TDP member Bhuma Nagi Reddy is being seen as a semi-final ahead of 2019 polls.
Indicating how important the bypoll has become for the two rival parties the Chief Minister personally led the campaign and spent last three days in the constituency while Jagan campaigned extensively in the constituency for more than ten days going from door to door and addressing public meetings.
The main contest was between Bhuma Brahmanand Reddy of TDP and Silpa Mohan Reddy of YSRCP.
While, Jaganmohan Reddy, in his all-out campaign went to the extent of cursing death on Naidu for cheating people TDP campaigners recalled the criminal cases of Jagan and forecasted that Jagan will be soon back in jail.
Nandyal has a significantly large number of Muslim electorate in Nandyal constituency of Kurnool district. Out of total control 2,31,000 electorate there were 45,000 Muslims holding the key to the outcome.
This explains why an anxious Chandrababu kept the ally BJP away from the campaign.
The BJP, a partner in the State Government, did not field any candidate and announced its support to the TDP. But fearing that the BJP’s participation in the campaign will drive away crucial Muslim votes, Naidu did not grant the wish of BJP leaders to
campaign with their saffron flag.
State Chief electoral officer Bhanwar lal has announced imposing several restrictions in Nandyal Assembly constituency ahead of Wednesday’s polling. He ordered all the political parties not to send any bulk messages to the electorate. He also restricted the media from carrying any new which can influence the voters.
Talking to the media in Hyderabad this evening Bhanwar lal said that the the liquor shops and bars will also remain closed from Monday evening.