TDP leading by 13,000 votes in Nandyal by-poll

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party is leading by a big margin in the bitterly fought Nandyal assembly by-election, with its candidate Bhuma Brahmananda Reddy ahead of YSR Congress by over 26,000 votes after 15 rounds of counting this afternoon.

By-elections were held last week in Nandyal because its legislator Bhuma Nagi Reddy died in March this year. The TDP candidate established a quick lead over Silpa Chandra Mohan Reddy of the YSR Congress and has been ahead since.

The TDP fielded Bhuma Nagi Reddy's nephew, also a former YSR Congress man, while the opposition party fielded a former TDP leader in Silpa Chandra Mohan Reddy.

The Nandyal contest is seen as a bellwether for assembly elections in the state and national elections, both to be held in 2019.Nandyal is considered a stronghold of the YSR Congress and its chief Jagan Mohan Reddy, who made harsh attacks on Chief Minister Naidu during the campaign, calling him a "thief" as he accused him of stealing his MLAs.

Jagan Mohan Reddy, 44, earned a sharp reprimand and warning from the Election Commission after he said that there would be nothing wrong if Mr Naidu "were to be shot dead on the road." In another meeting he said there was nothing wrong if "someone like Mr Naidu is hanged for his wrongs."