Election Comission keeps Shobha Nagi Reddy's name in candidates list

Hyderabad: By a strange quirk of rules, YSR Congress’ Allagadda candidate B. Shoba Nagi Reddy, who died on Thursday in a car crash, will be counted as a candidate for the April 30 elections.

Her name will be listed on the electronic voting machines (EVMs) and the votes that she polls will be held valid. She will be declared the winner if she gets the most votes, the Election Commission of India has clarified. A byelection will be held later on in the Allagadda constituency to fill the seat.

Asked about the EC’s decision to keep his wife B. Shoba Nagi Reddy in the fray for elections from Allagadda, her husband Bhooma Nagi Reddy said, “Even if my wife is dead, she lives in the hearts of the people. YSRC will win with a one-lakh majority in Allagadda. We will also win the byelections with the same majority.”

The Election Commission clarification comes following some reports that her name would be removed from the ballot, or that the votes polled by her will be declared as NOTA. The Election Commission said that votes polled for Sobha Nagi Reddy would not be considered as NOTA votes.

YSRC spokesperson Gattu Ramachandra Rao said, “We would have appreciated a re-election in this case. However, since her candidature will continue, we are hopeful that the people of Allagadda will give a majority for Sobha Nagi Reddy to express their gratitude for the services rendered by her.”