As expected beyond doubt, the ruling TRS candidate Thummala Nageshwara Rao on Thursday won the Palair Assembly seat by a record margin of 45,650 votes in the by-election. In 1972, the highest majority of winning candidate in the constituency was 24,000 votes.
While R&B Minister Thummala secured over 95,000 votes, the Congress candidate Sucharita Reddy, wife of late Ramreddy Venkat Reddy, supported by the TDP and BJP, could only get half of the votes polled by the ruling party nominee. The TRS candidate went on increasing his lead from the first round till the end and wrested the seat from the Congress without any sympathy wave.
Speaking to the media after his cake-walk in Palair bypoll, Thummala said his responsibility towards the people’s welfare has increased with this win. Expressing gratitude to the constituents for supporting his candidature, Thummala vowed that he would spare no efforts to develop Palair constituency as an ideal one. He also attributed his massive win to the historic welfare programs being implemented by the K Chandrasekhar Rao government.
Surprisingly, the TRS candidate registered 5,400 lead over Congress candidate in the first round itself and went on increasing his lead in every round leaving his rivals Congress and the CPI-M far behind. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said it was a clear mandate of the people on the TRS government’s efficient administration and developmental programs. He thanked the people and the party cadres of the constituency in particular. Congratulating his cabinet colleague Tummala, he promised that his government would always strive to meet the expectations of the people. He rebuked the Opposition Congress for its baseless criticism on TRS and advised it to learn lessons from the Palair by-election result. (NSS)