Congress-TRS alliance set to sweep Andhra Pradesh

Of the leading positions available for 294 seats, Congress and allies lead in 194 seats, TDP in 68 and others in 32 in the state.

The Congress looks headed towards a sweeping majority as trends in Andhra Pradesh indicated the end of 10-year Chandrababu Naidu government. Of the leading positions available for 294 seats, Congress and allies lead in 194 seats, TDP in 68 and others in 32 seats in the 294-member assembly.

The Congress looks headed towards a sweeping majority as initial trends in Andhra Pradesh indicated the end of 10-year Chandrababu Naidu government.

The fate of 1,896 candidates, including Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu (Kuppam), senior TDP leader and Home Minister T Devender Goud (Medchal), several state ministers, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) President Chandrasekhar Rao (Siddipet) and Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee President D Srinivas (Nizamabad) would be decided on Tuesday.

Counting of votes began at 8 AM and the results are expected to be out by this evening.

Early counting has been ordered in Andhra Pradesh as the new government should be in place by May 13 when the six-month deadline of the caretake TDP cabinet ends.

About 10,000 personnel have been drafted for counting of votes which is expected to be a quick affair with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) being deployed at all polling booths for the first time in the state.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure smooth counting of votes at 115 designated centres spread 42 cities and towns.

Congress leading in Narasi, Jangaon, Dendulur 

Initial trends showed Congress was leading in Narasi, Jangaon, Dendulur, Khairatabal and Rajahmundhry constituencies.

Its candidates were also ahead of their TDP rivals in Kaikular, Srikakulam, Ramaiampet and Nuzvid.

However, the ruling party was ahead of the Congress-TRS alliance in Medak, Mangalagiri, Attili, Bhimavaram and Payakareopeta. Its candidates also got initial leads in Nandigama and Palacole.

In Alampur and Mahbubnagar, independent candidates were ahead of the mainstream parties. BJP candidate was leading in Kurwam, while in Nidumolu and Miryalguda, the CPI(M) was ahead.

In Burgampahat, the trends showed a lead for the CPI candidate.