Why assembly by-polls in Andhra's Nandyal, Delhi's Bawana are crucial

Election strategist Prashant Kishor's team is handling YSR Congress Party's election in Nandyal

Today, assembly by-polls are being held on four seats in three states – in Andhra Pradesh’s Nandyal, Delhi’s Bawana and Goa’s Valpoi and Panaji.

The result of Delhi’s Bawana might give a measure of Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s popularity or the lack of it. Similarly, the Goa by-polls could indicate whether Manohar Parrikar continues to be popular in the state, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was able to form the government only after burning the midnight oil.

But the most intriguing of the four contests is Nandyal.

Nandyal, in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district, was once what