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Victory is a long shot, but Nandyal bypoll is litmus test for Congress in AP

Bypoll to Nandyal assembly election is scheduled to take place on August 23

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The August 23 bypoll in Nandyal is a matter of prestige for the TDP and the YSRCP but for Congress in Andhra Pradesh, it is a matter of relevance. Fully aware that victory is a long shot, the Congress is putting in all efforts to gauge its vote share in the constituency that was once deemed a Congress' bastion.

Jaganmohan Reddy

Despite not in a position to win against two strong contenders from the TDP and the YSR Congress, the Congress party has not just fielded a candidate but is also going all out for campaigns. The bypoll will be the Congress' first chance at testing its standing for the 2019 assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh.

Post the bifurcation of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, the Congress failed to win a single seat in the newly-formed state. The loss of face for the party was attributed to its role in bifurcating and allowing the formation of Telangana. Apart form seats, the Congress massively lost its vote share in many constituencies.

Post the 2014 debacle in Andhra Pradesh, the Nandyal bypoll is the first chance that the Congress has received to test its standing ahead of the next Assembly election. Both, the TDP and the YSR Congress are only competing with each other and are not considering Congress as serious competition in the upcoming Nandyal bypoll.

Nandyal was once a Congress bastion. Silpa Mohan Reddy, who is currently contesting on Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSR Congress ticket, had won from the constituency twice on a Congress ticket. In 2004 and 2009, Congress won the Nandyal seat but things took a turn in 2014 post the bifurcation and the party managed to retain just 3.5 per cent vote share in the constituency.

Congress leaders are now hopeful that 2014 phase or results will not repeat. The Congress is not looking to win the Nandyal bypoll but will be more than happy to see its vote share increase. Chandrababu Naidu's TDP has fielded Bhuma Brahmananda Reddy, son of the deceased legislator from the constituency, Bhuma Nagi Reddy. The Congress has fielded Abdul Khader, an advocate and the general secretary of Indian National Trade Union Congress for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Even if it loses the seat, the Congress is sure to celebrate if its vote share increases in the constituency. A spike in vote share means that the 2019 assembly elections will be positive for the Congress.

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