In a huge shocker, Congress sitting MLA and former minister T Jeevan Reddy has been defeated by TRS candidate Dr Sanjay Kumar with 57,127 vote majority in the Jagityal constituency. Jagityal has been Jeevan Reddy’s strong forte, as he has won the elections 6 times in his political career.
Incidentally, Jeevan Reddy defeated Dr Sanjay Kumar with 7,828 vote margin in the 2014 assembly elections. But due to a pre-poll understanding between the Prajakutami, TDP’s L Ramana withdrew from the contest in 2018 and supported Jeevan Reddy’s candidacy. This made everyone believe that Jeevan will win the 2018 with flying colours.
KCR’s daughter and TRS’ Nizamabad MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha has played a key role in Sanjay Kumar’s victory. She had personally called on the disappointed TRS leaders in Jagityal and ensured their support to Sanjay. Also, Sanjay’s whirlwind campaign is another reason behind TRS snatching the victory from Congress.
Jeevan Reddy had first won from Jagityal on a TDP ticket in 1983. He later joined Congress and won the elections in 1989, 1996 (by-election), 1999, 2004, 2016. He had also served as a minister in the YS Rajashekara Reddy cabinet. Jeevan’s dream to win the Jagityal seat for a record 7th time has been shattered by the TRS wave.
