Mr Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, scored a thumping victory in the Kadapa byelection, with a record 5.45 lakh majority, snubbing the State Congress (I) leadership and embarrassing the High Command, whose best efforts to defeat him, ended up in a pathetic performance.

In the Pulivendula assembly constituency of Kadapa district, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's (YSR) widow and Jaganmohan's mother, Ms. Y.S. Vijayalaxmi trounced minister and YSR's brother, Mr Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy again with a record margin (85,000 votes) in the byelection. These victories could signal some hectic political activity ahead and fresh challenges for the N. Kiran Kumar led Cong(I) Government in Andhra Pradesh.

The son of former Congress (I) strongman of Kadapa and Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR), who rebelled from the Congress (I) and took on the High Command by resigning out of the party along with his mother and floating his own—YSR Congress, emerged victorious with a resounding margin compared to his 1.75 lakh win in 2009.

The Congress (I) candidate and Minister, Mr D.L. Ravindra Reddy and Telugu Desam's Dr Mysoora Reddy polled just over a lakh votes each and failed to retain their deposits. The voters of Kadapa, did not buy their arguments of corruption against the YSR family, especially Mr Jaganmohan Reddy. Reports of Rs 300 crore being spent were afloat and unprecedented security arrangements were made by the State Government to conduct the elections held on May 8.

The Government led by Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy, a close confidante of the late Dr YSR as well as the main opposition-Telugu Desam led by Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu tried their best to defeat Mr Jagan and his mother. For the State Government, political analysts felt even reducing the margin of victory, would have been a consolation or “moral victory'. The huge defeat, will raise several questions on the State Congress (I) leadership.

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