YSR Congress takes lead in Andhra by-polls

Supporters of the jailed politician Jagan Mohan Reddy are celebrating as his party YSR Congress, as largely predicted, is leading in 15 of the 18 assembly seats for which by-elections were held this week in Andhra Pradesh. The by-elections are being viewed as an acid test for the ruling Congress party facing a serious challenge from the emerging YSR Congress party of YS Jaganmohan Reddy, presently in jail on charges of corruption. Senior leader of YSR Congress, Ambatti Ram Babu predicted a shutout win for his party and demanded mid-term polls in the state. More than 4.6 million voters had exercised their franchise at 5,413 polling stations on June 12. A total of 255 candidates are in the fray.