YSRCP sweeps RS elections, bags all 4 seats ; TDP candidate gets 17 votes

Vijayawada: All four candidates of the ruling YSR Congress Party won the Rajya Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh. It was a comfortable victory for the YSRCP, which has 151 members in the 175-member Assembly.

YSRCP had nominated deputy Chief Minister Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose, minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana Rao, realtor A. Ayodhya Rami Reddy, and senior group president of Reliance Industries Parimal Nathwani for the four Rajya Sabha seats. On 19 June, all were elected to the Upper House of the Parliament. Meanwhile, TDP’s candidate, Varla Ramaiah, managed to secure only 17 votes.

All the four YSRCP candidates got 38 votes each. A minimum of 36 votes is required for a candidate to win the Rajya Sabha seat from Andhra Pradesh. The TDP has only 23 MLAs and two of them were absent for the polls.

Of the total 173 votes polled in the elections, four were invalid after four TDP MLAs wrongly case their votes. The YSRCP leaders said Mr. Nathwani's win will boost industrial growth and development in the state.

Mr. Nathwani said people have faith in the YSRCP led by Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy because Jagan has fulfilled most of his promises. He said the CM will fulfill the remaining promises, too. He thanked Jagan for his win and said he will raise his voice in the Rajya Sabha for the progress of Andhra Pradesh.

Meanwhile, Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose, Mopidevi Venkata Ramana Rao, and A. Ayodhya Rami said Jagan had recognised their services and given them an opportunity by electing them as members of the Rajya Sabha.