Hindupuram MLA Balakrishna, who is usually busy with his films without paying much attention to the constituency, received a shock.
In the background where there is no more time for the elections, a by-election has emerged for a significant panchayat within the Hindupuram constituency.
The by-election was conducted for Chalivendula Panchayat, situated not far from Hindupuram town. This by-election was necessitated by the unfortunate demise of President Saubhagyamma.
Hindupuram stands as a stronghold of the Telugu Desam Party. Demographically, the constituency is predominantly composed of BCs and Muslims, with a notable presence of various groups within the YSR Congress party. These factors align favorably for the Telugu Desam Party, forming the basis for Balakrishna's victory.
Balakrishna had previously emerged victorious even in the face of strong wave of YSRCP. This outcome was largely attributed to the internal politics within the YSRCP, which persist even now – a separate narrative altogether.
Certain pro-TDP media outlets contend that a substantial resistance is building against Chief Minister Jagan's governance. TDP groups and activists vehemently expound on this matter. Keeping that aside, forget about winning, but TDP failed to give tough competition to YSRCP in the Panchayat election.
The YSRCP secured a decisive win with a lead of over three hundred votes. This triumph holds particular significance for the YSRCP.
The TDP had invested considerable effort and resources in pursuing victory here. Ordinarily, incumbents allocate substantial budgets for such elections. However, considering Hindupuram's paramount importance to the TDP, reports suggest that the party's expenditure was high in this case.
Confidential sources reveal that the TDP disbursed twenty lakhs in their bid to secure power in Chalivendula Panchayat. Local sources affirm that the MLA allocated up to 20 lakhs for campaigning within the panchayat, which consists of approximately 2000 votes.
Despite this financial outlay, the TDP failed to present a formidable challenge. Claims of increasing opposition to the YSR Congress Party are being propagated by yellow media. Nevertheless, in the constituency represented by Balakrishna, the TDP's twenty-lakh investment for two thousand votes failed to yield a significant impact.
It's important to note that the YSRCP likely matched the TDP's expenditure, even if the exact figures might differ.
This victory within the Hindupuram constituency holds positive implications for the YSRCP. The party maintains a presence in every town across this constituency, Chalivendula included. This result underscores the public's lack of faith in the TDP's on-going campaign.