High Stakes Andhra Pradesh Lok Sabha and Assembly Elections 2024: A Tussle Between YSRCP and NDA Alliance
The Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh held on May 13 witnessed a fierce battle between the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), led by Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, and the combined forces of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and Jan Sena Party (JSP). Key contenders for the TDP included YS Sharmila Reddy and Yedugiri Sandinti Avinash Reddy.
Exit polls suggested a significant win for the BJP-led NDA, estimating between 21 to 25 seats, while projecting a minimal victory for the YSRCP and a blank for the Congress-led INDIA bloc.
With a voter turnout of 81.86%, the BJP-TDP-JSP alliance emerged as a strong contender, potentially reshaping the state’s political landscape. The YSRCP, which secured 22 seats in 2019, faced a notable decline in its support base.
Simultaneously, the Andhra Pradesh Assembly Election 2024 also garnered immense attention. The YSRCP contested all 175 seats, while the TDP fielded candidates in 144 seats, alongside its alliance partners. The INDIA bloc, comprising Congress, CPI(M), and CPI, contested in 159, 7, and 7 seats, respectively.
The Election Commission reported 454 candidates vying for the 25 Lok Sabha seats and 2,387 candidates competing in the Assembly elections, recording a total voter turnout of 80.66%.
Exit polls indicated a potential dominance of the NDA alliance in the Lok Sabha elections, with projections of 19 to 25 seats. For the Assembly polls, the TDP-led alliance was forecasted to secure a substantial victory, ranging from 111 to 135 seats, while the YSRCP was expected to win between 45 to 60 seats. Some polls even suggested a sweeping victory for the TDP-led alliance, potentially winning 161 out of 175 seats.
