VIJAYAWADA: The Election Commission has directed all contesting candidates and political parties to stop the campaign for the by-election to Badvel assembly constituency on October 27.
The campaign should end at 7 pm on the day, chief electoral officer K Vijayanand said. The by-election is scheduled to be held on October 30.
The ruling YSRC, BJP and the Congress are the main contesting parties, apart from a number of registered parties and independents. In all, 15 candidates are contesting the by-election, which was necessitated by the death of YSRC MLA Dr Venkata Subbaiah. The YSRC is fielding the deceased MLA’s widow Dasari Sudha, following which the TDP and Jana Sena withdrew from the contest.
Meanwhile, the BJP is pulling out all stops to woo voters and prove its presence in the state through this by-election. BJP leaders are in constant touch with the Jana Sena and TDP leaders in the constituency, seeking their support.
The Congress is fielding former MLA Kamalamma. Sources say she is also in constant touch with the local TDP leaders, who are likely to back her this time. The TDP top leadership is not interested in supporting the BJP and have it increase its vote share in the state, and plans to support the Congress candidate instead.
The YSRC is leaving no stone unturned to retain the seat and get a majority of at least one lakh votes. Party top leaders and several ministers are camping in the constituency, monitoring the campaign process.
