Defeat of BJP Nominee in Mayoral Contest in Anantapur Hurts Alliance
Allegations of inadequate coordination, lack of cooperation among the party’s division-level candidates and a failure to transfer TD votes to the BJP candidate are emerging as major topics of discussion.
Anantapur: The defeat of the ruling alliance in the Anantapur Municipal Corporation mayoral election, despite NDA securing a majority of corporator seats, has hurt the alliance spirit -- and surprised Chief Minister and TD president N. Chandrababu Naidu.
The BJP candidate was trounced by YSRC candidate C. Ramesh with more than 5,000 votes. This, even as the alliance won all mayoral other seats – Anantapur being the only exception.
Naidu, while addressing the media on Monday to review the results of the local body elections, highlighted the alliance’s sweeping performance across the state, but specifically noted the contrasting outcome in Anantapur.
The YSR Congress managed to capture the mayor’s post there even as it lacked a majority in the corporation. A division in the Telugu Desam facilitated this victory for the YSRC.
Of the 13 municipal corporations that went to polls, the NDA secured 12 mayoral positions. The alliance, however, secured 37 of the 62 corporator divisions, while the YSRC won 21.
The Chief Minister stressed the importance of coalition unity and cautioned leaders against allowing individual ambitions and internal differences to undermine the alliance’s interests. In Anantapur, four independents -- all of them TD rebels – won the polls.
Meanwhile, the Anantapur defeat has intensified the mood against the urban MLA and his men who were allegedly involved in land grabbing issues. Dissident leaders have reportedly turned their guns on MLA D. Prasad, questioning his leadership and the role played by his group in the election.
Allegations of inadequate coordination, lack of cooperation among the party’s division-level candidates and a failure to transfer TD votes to the BJP candidate are emerging as major topics of discussion.