TDP retains Tirupati assembly seat

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has retained Tirupati seat with a massive majority of over 1.16 lakh votes, dashing all hopes of the Congress party to open its account in Andhra Pradesh assembly.

Riding on the sympathy wave, M. Suguna of the ruling party won the by-election, caused by the death of her husband M. Venkatramna.

She defeated her nearest rival R. Sreedevi of the Congress party by 116,524 votes.

Out of 147,216 votes polled, Suguna bagged 126,152 votes.

All other candidates including Sreedevi of Congress lost their deposit.

The Congress candidate finished a poor second with just 9,628 votes.

Suguna's massive victory dashed all hopes of the Congress party for revival of its fortunes in the state.

The Congress had no representation in the assembly. It drew a blank in general elections held in May last year as people vent their ire on the party for bifurcating the state.

The main opposition party YSR Congress did not field a candidate in Tirupati by-election to reciprocate the TDP's gesture in not contesting the Allagadda assembly seat.

TDP had won 102 seats in 175-member assembly in the elections held last year.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu congratulated Suguna for the massive victory. Naidu, who is also the TDP chief, said the result show the confidence people have in TDP government.