Campaign ends for Nandigama by-poll

• TDP candidate likely to win
• Congress' presence makes battle tough for TDP

Nandigama (Krishna): Campaign for the Nandigama Assembly by-election ended on Thursday. Although the result is predicted to be one-sided, in favour of ruling Telugu Desam, the 15-day- long canvassing was hectic with the presence of Congress.

The by-poll was caused by the death of legislator-elect, Tangirala Prabhakara Rao, on June 12. He was elected for the second term in 2014, after his first victory in 2009, when Nandigama was reserved for SCs in the reorganization of constituencies. He had won with a margin of 5,074 votes against YSRCP candidate V Parameswara Rao, with the Congress nominee polling only 1,988 votes. Since 1983, the Congress won the Nandigama seat only in 1989. The TDP bagged the seat in 1983, 1985, 1999, 2004 and 2009. The TD is fielding Rao's elder daughter Sowmya.

The Congress decided to be in the race to expose the Telugu Desam ‘failures’. Senior leaders, including APCC president N Raghuveera Reddy and Botcha Satyanarayana, campaigned for party candidate B Baburao. Seniors Devineni Rajasekhar Nehru and Malladi Vishnu camped in the segment intensifying the campaign.

The TD, which is confident of a big victory, had to work hard to check the Congress gaining ground. Party leaders, including Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao and Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas, campaigned extensively, mostly using the capital location as an advantage to residents of Nandigama.

The Congress highlighted the TD government failures, particularly in implementing loan waiver for farmers and SHG women. Political observers feel it would not be easy for the Congress to win the by-election despite its best efforts.

The Congress, routed in the general elections, is focussed on Nandigama to enter the AP Assembly. It appealed to voters "allow" the candidate into the Assembly to fight the TDP by focussing on the delay in loan waiver. After the end of campaigning, State TD secretary Gottipati Ramakrishna said the party’s victory was certain. It was confident of getting a huge majority. The constituents were prepared to show confidence in CM N Chandra Babu Naidu.

APCC secretary Kolanukonda Shivaji accused TDP of violating the election code. He said the party had succeeded in mobilising people who are ‘disappointed’ with TDP rule within three months Holidays

Krishna Collector M Raghunandana Rao announced holiday for schools, colleges and government offices on September 12 for distribution of poll material. On September 13, the polling day, all establishments and educational institutions will be closed. Rao declared holiday on September 16, the counting day.