A triangular contest is on for the 27 May by-election to the Telangana Legislative Council.
Published May 15, 2024 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated May 15, 2024 | 9:10 AM
Andhra CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is all set for his repose after months of hectic campaigning for the simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha elections that took place on Monday, 13 May.
With the CBI court in Hyderabad giving him clearance on Tuesday to travel abroad, he is expected to travel to Europe with his family on 16 May for a vacation.
The CBI investigation into the disproportionate assets case against Jagan is still underway.
While granting permission, the court asked him to leave his email ID and phone numbers with the court and the investigative agency.
Starting 16 May, he is set to travel to London, France, and Switzerland, and is likely to return on 1 June — just in time for the counting of votes on 4 June.
However, in Telangana, it is business as usual for BRS working president KT Rama Rao. The BRS leader has already called for a meeting of key party leaders on 15 May to prepare for the by-election to the legislative council in the Graduate Constituency, comprising Warangal, Khammam and Nalgonda districts.
The election scheduled to be held on 27 May is expected to be a three-way clash between Congress, BRS and BJP. Incumbent BRS MLA Palla Rajeswar Reddy resigned after being elected to the Janagon legislative assembly, necessitating the by-election.
Teenmar Mallanna alias Ch Naveen Kumar is the Congress nominee, while BJP and BRS are fielding Gujjula Premender Reddy and A Rakesh Reddy respectively. The by-election was necessitated by the resignation of incumbent BRS MLC Palla Rajeswar Reddy after his election to the legislative assembly from Janagoan in Telangana.
Streets in both states are finally calm without the cacophony of blaring mikes, traffic snarls and roadshows. However, there has been a slight snag as highways are crowded with people returning to their residential cities after voting.
Andhra Pradesh witnessed a considerable number of violent incidents including kidnapping and arson. Tempers ran high in several polling stations across Telangana with party workers accusing each other of acting in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
Leader of Opposition (LoP) N Chandrababu Naidu, who was in Varanasi to support PM Modi as he filed his nomination papers, also has plans to take a vacation abroad though nothing has been finalised yet.
Meanwhile, in Hyderabad, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Congress MLAs Jare Adinarayana, Payam Venkateswarlu and BRS MLA Tellam Venkata Rao, who recently joined the Congress left for Kochi. According to sources, they are on a trip to Sabarimala.
(Edited by Neena)
