Everything has been set in place for the by elections in Andhra Pradesh. The polling will be held on 12th June 2012. The counting of votes will be on 15th June 2012. All the leading political parties in the state, the ruling Congress, the TDP and YSR Congress Party are keen on winning as many seats as possible. The TRS and BJP are at logger heads in Parkal Constituency and YSR Congress is also keeping its hopes alive after Vijayamma and Sharmila’s campaign.
The Congress is making all the efforts to contain the effect of sympathy votes to YSR Congress Party. The PCC president Botcha Satyanarayana and Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy have started attacking YS Jagan and his family members. The entire focus of the Congress is on Jagan and his alleged corruption and not on the functioning and schemes of the Government.
On the other hand, the TDP has hopes on the split in the Congress vote bank. Any gain between 3-5 seats are likely to boost the morale of the TDP cadre. The biggest loser in this by election would be obviously the Congress Party. The Congress party candidates and leaders themselves are not confident of winning majority seats. Though the BJP is contesting in 11 seats in this by election, the entire focus is on Parkal Constituency only. Let us wait till 15th June to know the fortunes of the parties and leaders.
Poll expenses should be recovered from the persons responsible with penalty and they should be debarred from contesting elections permanently. Suitable amendments should be made for amending the
constitution if required.