metro india news  I AMARAVATI

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) continues to assert its dominance in Andhra Pradesh politics with a resounding victory in the recent Graduate Member of Legislative Council (MLC) elections. The party has secured both contested seats, adding to its already impressive tally and further solidifying its grip on graduate constituencies across the state.

In the latest elections held on February 27, voting took place for the East-West Godavari Graduate MLC seat and the Krishna-Guntur Graduate MLC seat. The counting of votes, conducted yesterday, confirmed a clean sweep for the TDP-backed NDA alliance candidates. Alapati Rajendra Prasad emerged victorious in the Krishna-Guntur seat with a massive majority of 82,320 votes, securing his win by the seventh round of counting. Similarly, Perabattula Rajashekar won the East-West Godavari Graduate MLC seat by an overwhelming margin of 71,063 votes, also securing the necessary 51% vote share by the seventh round.

TDP's stronghold over the Graduate MLC constituencies has been evident in recent years. In the 2023 elections, the party secured all three Graduate MLC seats contested—Uttarandhra, East Rayalaseema (Chittoor-Nellore-Prakasam), and West Rayalaseema (Kadapa-Kurnool-Anantapur). Notably, in the West Rayalaseema seat, which includes former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s home constituency of Pulivendula, TDP’s candidate Bhumireddy Rangaopal Reddy secured a significant number of votes. With the latest victory in 2025, TDP has now swept all five Graduate MLC seats in Andhra Pradesh, marking a significant political milestone for the party.

The election results also highlight an upward trend in support for the NDA alliance in Andhra Pradesh. Compared to the 2024 general elections, the Graduate MLC elections have seen a 10% increase in votes for the NDA alliance. In the Krishna-Guntur constituency, TDP’s Alapati Rajendra Prasad won with 1,45,057 votes, while his closest rival, PDF candidate Lakshmana Rao, managed only 62,737 votes. A similar pattern was observed in the East-West Godavari seat, where TDP’s Perabattula Rajashekar won with 1,12,331 votes, while PDF candidate Didla Veera Raghavulu secured just 41,268 votes.

These results have sent a strong signal about the political mood in the state, with TDP’s growing support base becoming increasingly evident. The opposition, led by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), has struggled to maintain its foothold, as reflected in these election results. The NDA’s strong performance has reinforced the perception that the political winds in Andhra Pradesh are shifting in favor of the ruling alliance.

In a parallel contest, the Uttarandhra Teachers’ MLC election also concluded, with PRTU candidate Gade Srinivasulu Naidu emerging victorious. The sitting MLC, Raghu Varma, suffered defeat. Despite a competitive race with 10 candidates, the elimination rounds led to a final showdown between Srinivasulu Naidu and Raghu Varma. Ultimately, Naidu secured the required majority (10,068 votes) through second-preference vote counting, securing yet another crucial win.

The TDP’s sweeping victory in these elections signals the party’s strong comeback ahead of the next electoral battles in the state. The results not only highlight the party’s growing popularity but also reflect a significant shift in voter sentiment against the previous YSRCP administration. With the NDA alliance gaining momentum, the upcoming political landscape in Andhra Pradesh is set to be even more competitive and dynamic.