Tirupati: The 2024 Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in AP presented a mixed bag for first-time candidates. Many newcomers scored upset victories against veteran politicians and long-time MLAs, even as seasoned contestants largely maintained their hold.
In the assembly elections, several debutants achieved surprising wins by taking advantage of the anti-incumbency sentiments. An upset win was in Kovur, where a TD candidate triumphed over a six-term legislator from the YSRC, Nallapureddy Prasanna Reddy. The newcomer campaigned by citing the lack of basic facilities in villages and governmental neglect of small-time farmers and the fishermen community.
The Nellore LS witnessed a fierce fight between two political heavyweights and Rajya Sabha members, who debuted in the LS polls. TD candidate, V Prabhakara Reddy trounced V Vijaya Sai Reddy, the second-most powerful leader in the YSRC.
In the Udayagiri assembly segment, an intense battle between two debutants – Kakarla Suresh of the TD and Mekapati Rajagopal Reddy of the YSRC - saw the TD candidate registering a maiden win.
Other newcomers from Nellore district were Nedurumalli Ram Kumar (Venkatagiri) of the YSRC, N Vijayasree (Sullurpeta) of TD, M Murali (Gudur) and M Khaleel Ahmed (Nellore City) of the YSRC.
While Vijayashree clinched her first victory, the other three had lost their first electoral battles.
Several other first-time assembly candidates from major parties struggled against seasoned opponents.
Bhumana Abhinay Reddy (Tirupati), Chevireddy Mohith Reddy (Chandragiri), Nukathoti Rajesh (Satyavedu) of the YSRC and Jayachandra Reddy of the TD (Thamballapalle) lost to onslaughts from their rivals.
Among two first-timers in Chittoor assembly segment, V Vijayananda Reddy of the YSRC lost to his TD rival G Jagan Mohan. Another first-timer from the district who clinched a comfortable victory was Kalikiri Murali Mohan (Puthalapattu) of TD.
Among the debutant winners across the state are Lokam Madhavi of the Jana Sena from Nellimarla, who won with 39,829 votes, K Ramakrishna of TD, who defeated first-timer M Bharath Kumar of the YSRC in Anakapalle, Divya Yanamala (Tuni), Satya Prabha (Prathipadu), Surendra Babu Amilineni (Kalyandurg), Palle Sindhuri Reddy (Puttaparthi) of the TD, P Venkateswara Rao (Kakinada Rural) of the Jana Sena, B Virupakshi (Aluru) of the YSRC and Satya Kumar (Dharmavaram) of the BJP.
In the Lok Sabha elections, the trend of some fresh faces prevailing over others played out as well. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani of TD, a doctor and entrepreneur- turned-politician contesting the polls for the first time, won the Guntur Lok Sabha seat by defeating Kilari Venkata Rosaiah of the YSRC.
T Udaya Srinivas of the Jana Sena won from Kakinada and GM Harish of the TD from Amalapuram (PC) were among the others who won seats in their first election foray itself.
