The 2014 general elections in Andhra Pradesh will be remembered as an epic battle where a few bigwigs lost with a narrow margin and at least one candidate won posthumously.
Shobha Nagi Reddy became the first candidate in the history of the State to win the elections after her death. As YSR Congress Party candidate, she was declared elected from Allagadda constituency in Kurnool district by a margin of 17,928 votes. She defeated TDP’s Gangula Prabhakar Reddy.
However, she died in a ghastly car accident during the election campaign. As the YSRCP was not a recognised party, the Election Commission could not countermand the poll. But as her name was already included in the candidates list, people voted for her. Now the Election Commission will have to conduct a by election.
Shobha’s husband Bhuma Nagi Reddy won from Nandyal Assembly constituency. Among the big losers, former Union Minister S Jaipal Reddy was defeated in Mahubnagar Assembly constituency with a narrow margin of 2,590 at the hands of AP Jintendar Reddy of TRS. BJP’s Nagam Janardhan Reddy came third.
Many relatives were among the loser. In Mahububnagar district Nagam Janardhan Reddy’s son and BJP candidate Nagam Shashidhar Reddy, TRS candidate and sitting MP from Nagarkurnool Manda Jagannadham and his son also lost the elections. But former Minster D K Aruna and her brother Rammohan Reddy won from Gadwal and Makhtal constituencies.