Women candidates in AP Assembly register 3% more winning strike rate than previous elections

VISAKHAPATNAM: The number of women candidates who emerged victorious in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections has increased by approximately 3% compared to the previous elections. Notably, several women candidates achieved remarkable victories against prominent figures such as ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers.

Despite constituting only 10% of the total 2,387 candidates contesting for the 24 Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, women candidates showcased their strength. The TDP-Janasena-BJP alliance secured 22 seats (TDP 21 and Janasena 1), while the YSRCP managed to win only two seats out of contested 21 seats.

In the previous elections, women candidates accounted for 193 (10%) out of the total contestants in 2014, with only 14 candidates emerging victorious, representing a winning percentage of 8%.

The TDP won all 21 seats where it fielded women candidates, and Janasena's lone woman candidate Lokam Madhavi secured victory at Nellimarla, Vizianagaram district, defeating two-time MLA Badukonda Appala Naidu. The YSRCP, despite fielding 21 women candidates, only managed to win two seats – Virupakshi at Aluru in Kurnool district and Dasari Sudha in Badwel of Kadapa.

Women candidates who contested against prominent leaders, such as Vanga Gita against Janasena chief Pavan Kalyan in Pithapuram, TN Deepika against actor Nandamuri Balakrishna in Hindupuram, and M Lavanya against Nara Lokesh in Mangalagiri, faced defeat with significant margins.

However, TDP candidates like Gummadi Sandhya Rani achieved a sensational victory over four-time MLA and Deputy CM P Rajanna Dora in Saluru, while Toyyakala Jagadeeswari defeated former Deputy CM Pamula Pushpa Srivani in Kurupam. Madhavi Reddy emerged victorious against another former Deputy CM, Anzad Basha, in Kadapa. Aditi Gajapati Raju, the daughter of former central minister Ashok Gajapati Raju and a member of the Vizianagaram Royal family, won against deputy speaker Kolagatla Veerabhadra Swamy in Vizianagaram.

TDP state women wing president Vangalapudi Anita secured a comfortable victory against Kambala Jogulu of YSRCP. YSRCP ministers Dadisetti Raja, Vidadala Rajani, and Sidiri Appala Raju faced defeat against TDP candidates Yanamala Divya, P Madhavi, and Gautu Sirisha, respectively.

Former ministers Paritala Sunita (Raptadu), Bhuma Akhila Priya (Allagadda), two-time MLA Gowru Charita Reddy (Panyam), and three-time MLA Kolla Lalitha Kumari (S Kota) also emerged victorious. However, YSRCP women ministers and former ministers Mekatoti Sucharita, RK Roja, and Deputy CM Budi Mutyala Naidu's daughter E Anuradha suffered defeats in the elections.

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