In Chittoor Lok Sabha Constituency, TDP's Prasad Rao Leads While YSRCP's Reddeppa Trails Far Behind

In Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor Lok Sabha constituency, Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) is leading with a margin of 97,340 votes (as of 1:39 pm), while YSRCP’s Redeppa, and Indian National Congress’ Motukur Jagapathi trails behind. TDP is leading in Andhra Pradesh 16 seats, while the incumbent YSRCP is behind with 4 seats.

Chittoor faced a heated contest this year. The Lok Sabha constituency has seen a neck to neck contest between YSRCP (Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party), TDP (Telugu Desam Party), and INC (Indian National Congress). YSRCP fielded the sitting MP N Reddeppa, TDP fielded Daggumalla Prasad Rao, and INC fielded Motukur Jagapathi.

Since its formation in 1952, Chittoor was under the clasp of Congress for a very long time. The party has won the seat 9 times. However, during the 1984 Lok Sabha election, the seat was claimed by TDP. Though Congress won the seat back, and held it for two consecutive terms, since 1996, it could not win the Chittoor.

Telugu Desam Party has been holding the forte since 1996. The party has won the seat for seven terms. Being the hometown of party supremo N Chandrababu Naidu has played in favour for the party’s win. Notably, during the 2019 YSRCP wave, TDP lost Chittoor.

While TDP candidate Prasad Rao, the former IRS (Indian Revenue Service) officer, and first time candidate for the Lok Sabha election was confident that he would win the seat for his party, the sitting MP, N Reddeppa was reportedly less confident, as critics pointed out that despite him serving as the MP for five years, he was not well-known in several area.

This election was mainly a tug of war between TDP, and YSRCP, with Congress mostly becoming a non-consequential contestant.