The TDP-BJP alliance has been voted to power in the Seemandhra region.
Together, they garnered 107 Assembly seats out of 175 and convincingly defeated its arch rival YSR Congress Party (67). The ruling Cong (I) failed to open its account.
The TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu is set to form the new Government after being in political oblivion for 10 years. He had served nine years as Chief Minister up to 2004 after usurping powers from his father-in-law and legendary actor NT Rama Rao.
The TDP-BJP alliance, riding on the wave of the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi sweeping the country in the general elections, also won 17 Lok Sabha seats out of the 25 in the region.
‘People’s victory’ A jubilant Naidu described the win as a people’s victory and voluntary hardwork of youngsters and entrepreneurs. Telugus who have been wronged by the division of the State have voted in our favour.
“We will ensure that they will get their due. All the promises made during his 2,500-km-long padayatra and in the Party manifesto will be fulfilled”.
Referring to the plans to develop Seemandhra, Naidu told newspersons that “We have to start from the scratch. But we are confident of developing it”.
The Party will join the NDA Government to be led by Narendra Modi at the Centre.
Jagan gets a shock For YSR CP and Jagan, the results came as a shock. People have been carried away by the false promises of Naidu and also the Modi wave impacted our performance, he told newspersons, while acknowledging the defeat.
He had banked heavily on the image and popular schemes of his late father and former CM, YS Rajasekhara Reddy. Jagan’s tireless campaign post his release from the jail that reached every nook and corner of the region along with his mother YS Vijayamma and sister YS Sharmila did not seem to have cut ice with the electorate. His facing corruption charges also perhaps negatively impacted in the final result.
The party will now have to contend as the main opposition and have a presence in Parliament with about eight seats in the Lok Sabha.