Terribly upset with the defeat of the YSR Congress party in the Nandyal by-elections, party president and Leader of Opposition Y S Jaganmohan Reddy said it was not a vote for Chandrababu Naidu development at all and the TDP had won the seat with money, muscle and police powers.
Jagan, who is understood to have taken a serious class to his party leaders and campaign managers who went all out to secure victory for the YSRC in Nandyal, told media later that if Naidu thought people had voted for him, he would be a fool.
“There is nothing more bankruptcy of thought than this. People have voted for Naidu because they were intimidated, threatened and lured with his money power. They also voted for the TDP because they did not want to antagonise the government before the general elections,” he said.
The YSRC chief reminded that the people were definitely disgusted with the rule of Naidu, who failed to implement any of his electoral promises.
“When I told the same in my road shows, there was a tremendous response from the people. I only reflected their opinion. But when it came to voting, they succumbed to money power. The TDP spent over Rs 200 crore in the elections, roped in all ministers and MLAs in Nandyal and used the police force to threaten the voters,” he said.
Jagan refused to consider Nandyal by-election as a referendum.
“How can just a single by-election be considered a referendum? People will give their verdict in the general elections not in by-elections. Or at least, there should be by-elections for a dozen seats. I throw a challenge to Naidu.
Let him make all the 20 MLAs, who got elected on my party ticket and jumped into the TDP, resign from their seats and go for by-elections. Let me see how Naidu will spend Rs 4000 crore, use police forces and misuse power in all these 20 seats,” he said.
He said a politician should have a strong willpower and strength to withstand the big blows.
“The TDP has gave us a blow now. We will withstand it and when our time comes, we will hit back,” he asserted.
