The YSRCP on Friday bagged all four Rajya Sabha seats from Andhra Pradesh. The Jaganmohan Reddyled party, with this victory, cemented its position in the Upper House. Parimal Nathwani, A. Ayodhya Rami Reddy and Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose and Mopidevi Venkata Ramana are the four candidates who have been elected to Rajya Sabha.
The YSRCP has 151 MLAs in Andhra Assembly out of 175 seats, but it has gained 152 seats. Small party, Jenasena, which has only one MLA, too voted for YSRCP candidate. The Telugu Desam Party fielded scheduled caste leader Varla Ramaih, but he was defeated. Surprisingly, only 17 MLAs voted for him out of 23 from his own party. The TDP was well aware of its defeat, and fielded the Dalit face of the party to throw a challenge for the ruling party, but did not expect to get only 17 votes. The three rebel MLAs of the TDP could not vote for YSRCP to avoid disqualification, but they made their votes invalid intentionally. Another woman TDP MLA, Adireddy Bhavani’s (sister of TDP MP Rammohan Naidu) vote turned invalid as she ticked on the first preferential vote, instead of marking number 1.
TDP senior leader and ex minister Atchennaidu, who is in judicial custody, could not vote. Another MLA Anagani Satyaprasad, who is in self-quarantine, has not been able to come for voting.
YSRCP Rajya Sabha MP and parliamentary party Chief Vijay Sai Reddy told The Daily Guardian, “Andhra’s most favourite leader is Jagan Mohan Reddy. The journey of YSRCP in Rajya Sabha had started with one member, then it grew to two; now it’s six. The number is going to be 11 by 2024, with more than 30 MPs. We are formidable force and going to safeguard the interests of the state at central level under the leadership of the Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy. We will give our best for the development of AP. All Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members of YSRCP will work unitedly for the interests of the state in Delhi. I once again thank the MLAs who have elected us.”