The Hindu : Front Page : Congress set to bag 18 ZPs, TDP three

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Thursday, Jul 06, 2006

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Congress set to bag 18 ZPs, TDP three

Special Correspondent

Uncertainty over Khammam as both combines are tied with 22 seats each

HYDERABAD: As the dust settles following the Panchayat Raj election results, mood in the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party on Wednesday was subdued with neither claiming the outcome to be a political windfall.

As the final results were out, the Congress piped the TDP to the post in two districts and was all set capture 18 Zilla Parishads while the TDP bagged a majority of Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs) in Adilabad, Anantapur and Ranga Reddy districts. Uncertainty looms over Khammam ZP as the Congress-CPI-TRS alliance and the TDP-CPI (M) combine were tied with 22 seats each leaving the CPI (ML) New Democracy to play kingmaker's role. However, the New Democracy leaders have categorically said that they would not support any party.

Feverish activity was witnessed in Khammam with different political parties trying to woo elected members of rival parties. The Congress, TDP and TRS shifted their members to other districts to prevent them from being poached.

The results showed that the Congress swept Prakasam, Guntur, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Kadapa districts, where the TDP could not cross the double digit. The Congress came pretty close to the TDP's tally of 33 by bagging 30 ZPTCs while in Ranga Reddy, the Congress won 15 and the TDP 17. The results came as a shock to several Ministers, MLAs and former Ministers. Marketing Minister Botcha Satayanarayana's wife Jhansilakshmi won the Gurla ZPTC seat in Vizianagaram district. Municipal Administration Minister Koneru Ranga Rao's daughter T. Kumari also won an ZPTC seat in Krishna district. Minister M. Mareppa's brother and son-in-law won ZPTC and MPTC contests. Former Minister, P. Ramasubba Reddy's wife, Indira lost Peddamudiyam ZPTC seat to Jammalamadugu MLA, Ch. Adinarayana Reddy's relative. Husband of Warangal Mayor, E. Swarna was among the losers.

Congress leaders said the voters had reposed faith once again in the party in this election. They had endorsed the welfare and development activities taken up by the Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy Government, Mr. Rosaiah and others told reporters here on Wednesday.

On the other hand, TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu said the party was analysing the verdict and rectifying its shortcomings.

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