The decision of the Telugu Desam Party and Jana Sena Party not to field their candidates in the upcoming by-election to Badvel assembly constituency in Kadapa district has come as no surprise.
TDP politburo meeting which was held under the leadership of party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday decided against contesting the Badvel by-poll, as the ruling YSR Congress party announced the candidature of Dasari Sudha, widow of deceased MLA G Venkata Subbaiah, whose death due to ill-health in March this year necessitated the by-election.
TDP state president K Atchannaidu claimed that it was the TDP which had introduced the tradition of not challenging the spouses of the deceased sitting MLAs in the by-elections.
“The party politburo has decided to continue this tradition in the Badvel by-poll as well,” he said.
Earlier, Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan also announced that though his party wanted contest the Badvel by-poll initially, it was decided against the contest later, respecting the tradition of not fielding the candidates against deceased MLA’s spouses.
Interestingly, the main opposition Telugu Desam Party, too, initially announced the candidature of its senior leader Obulapuram Rajasekhar for Badvel, but on seeking Pawan Kalyan’s announcement, Naidu, too, decided against fielding the candidate in the by-poll.
Apparently, both Naidu and Pawan have realized that it is going to be a losing battle in Badvel, as it is the bastion of the YSRC.
Even if they field the candidates, it would only be a waste of money and energy. So, they opted out of the contest, on the pretext of tradition.
In fact, this tradition applies to not just spouses of the deceased MLAs, but any other family members. But the TDP is following it only for the spouses.
For example, when the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi fielded its candidate Nomula Bhagat, son of deceased MLA Nomula Narasimhaiah in the by-election to Nagarjunasagar assembly seat this April, the TDP fielded its candidate Muvva Arun Kumar, ignoring the tradition.
In any case, the TDP and the Jana Sena could escape facing humiliation in the Badvel by-poll by taking the excuse of the tradition.
But it makes sense only when the election of the sitting MLA’s widow is unanimous. In case of Badvel, there is no such chance, as the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress are ignoring this tradition and planning to field their candidates.
So, the by-election is going to take place irrespective of the withdrawal by the TDP and the Jana Sena from the contest!
