Vijayawada: Nandyal bypolls might be the costliest bypolls so far in history, with both the TD and YSRC believing that its outcome will dictate their future in 2019 elections.
It is a do-or-die situation for the ruling TD to sustain the public’s confidence in them. A cabinet minister, on the condition of anonymity, said the YSRC was ready to spend Rs 30 crore, which has provoked the ruling TD to spend Rs 70 crore. He further expressed his astonishment on bypolls becoming so costly.
There are 2,15,000 voters in Nandyal. On an average, 70 per cent polling happens in general elections. It may vary as it is by-elections. Now, both the ruling TD and opposition YSRC have set a target of 1.5 lakh polling count.
There are 235 polling booths in Nandyal and both the parties established their local party offices last week near each booth to monitor and coordinate booth-level voters.
They pay Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 for the maintenance of each office for a day, which will operate till Aug. 23.
Along with this, they are also paying Rs 250 per head for those who are following the contesting candidate during his campaigns. Both the parties are also satisfying the local youth associations, community association on their wishes right from donations to distribution of cricket kits.
According to sources, the vote price ranges from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000, based on the community, party and political obligations.
It is learnt that the YSRC is on par with the ruling TD in spending on Nandyal bypolls. It is observed the TD is able to influence more, being in ruling and having the Centre’s support. At the same time, even the YSRC hinted about having Central assistance, though not as the ruling TD.
Minister Somireddy Chandra Mohan Reddy said there was no necessity for the TD to spend on Nandyal bypolls, as the opposition is spending crores. The TD’s development and welfare activities will lead to its success, but the YSRC is spending and luring voters for its existence, he said.
YSRC MLA R.K. Roja shared that the Election Commission must focus on the ruling TD spending Rs 1,200 crore in the name of development and welfare activities in Nandyal to lure voters in a span of just one month by allocating the works to localities on nomination basis and now crores of rupees. The YSRC had no necessity to spend money and its success was assured, she said.
APCC spokesperson P. Gowtham said Nandyal bypolls would be the costliest election in the nation, which is beating the history of RK Nagar in Tamil Nadu, in which Rs 85 crore was reportedly spent.
