Despite TDP winning Nandyal bypoll, Brahmananda Reddy can still be disqualified

Telugu Desam Party candidate Bhuma Brahmananda Reddy on Monday won the Nandyal assembly seat in Andhra Pradesh by defeating YSR Congress rival by over 27,000 votes.

Despite winning the seats, Brahmananda Reddy could lose because of his campaign expenditure which exceeded the limit set by the Election Commission.

A candidate's expenditure limit in an Assembly seat in Andhra Pradesh is Rs 28 lakh. According to Section 77 of the Representation of the People Act, the expenses incurred by leaders of a party during the campaign are not deemed to be the candidate's expenditure as long as the party submits its list of star campaigners within a week of the poll notification.

The TDP submitted its list, which included names of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and actor Balakrishna, almost two weeks after the bypoll date was notified.

However, Brahmananda Reddy assumed the Election Commission approved the list despite the late submission but it was removed after Andhra Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal highlighted the error.

And in case of Brahmananda Reddy, since he exceeded the expenditure limit by Rs 28 lakh, the victory can be challenged through an election petition and the court could set it aside. This could mean that YSRCP candidate Silpa Chandra Mohan Reddy will be declared as the winner.

OneIndia News