Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh), Nov 4 (IANS) The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has said that the result of the election in Anantapur for the mayor’s post reflects the mood of the people, which will be echoed across Andhra Pradesh in the coming days.

Speaking to the media here on Wednesday, the party’s District President Anantha Venkatarami Reddy said the YSRCP cadre had braved all the atrocities of the ruling NDA coalition led by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and that the people had delivered an unequivocal verdict in the municipal elections.

He appealed to voters to carry the same spirit into the ZPTC and MPTC elections scheduled for November 5.

He thanked everyone, including officials, who worked to safeguard democracy and allowed the electoral process to take its course. He also said the government should cooperate in the city’s development.

The results across the State would have been the same had the Chandrababu Naidu government allowed the democratic process to function and conducted the elections fairly, without misusing official machinery or intimidating Opposition cadre, candidates and sympathisers, he said.

The people’s mood was especially clear in Tadipatri, where the YSRCP secured over 16,400 votes despite restrictions, while counting took place without any of its counting agents present, the leader said.

He said the verdict in the municipal elections would be reflected across the State in the days to come, adding that the low turnout was due to the atmosphere of fear created by the ruling coalition led by the TDP.

YSRCP mayoral candidate Ramesh Goud attributed the victory to the hard work of Anantha Venkatarami Reddy, the cadre and the people. He assured voters that he would work for the city’s development and urged the Naidu government to cooperate in restoring normalcy in the city.

“We braved all the atrocities of the coalition government. We will honour the people’s verdict by standing with them and working for the city’s development,” he said.

Anantapur is the only municipal corporation in the state where YSRCP has won the post of mayor.

Ramesh Goud defeated his nearest rival K. Aeesh Babu of the BJP by a margin of 5,981 votes.

YSRCP could win only three out of 100 Urban Local Bodies for which elections were held on Sunday. The party’s candidates were elected as chairpersons of two municipalities.

The TDP-led NDA swept the polls, winning 94 seats. The TDP was leading in Ongole mayoral polls, where the counting of votes was in progress on Wednesday.

–IANS

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