The Uttarandhra Teachers' MLC election results have dealt a shocking blow to the TDP-Janasena alliance.
Gade Srinivasulu Naidu, backed by PRTU and supported by BJP, was won. Pakalapati Raghu Varma, the candidate supported by the sitting MLC from TDP-Janasena, was defeated.
Over 22,000 teachers voted in this election. In the first preference count, Gade secured 7,216 votes, Raghu Varma 6,851, and Vijaya Gowri, supported by UTF and PDF, 5,811.
Since no candidate reached the 10,068-vote majority, second-preference votes were counted.
Srinivasulu Naidu emerged victorious, largely due to PDF candidate Vijaya Gowri’s supporters favoring him as second-preference. This indirectly led to Raghu Varma’s defeat.
Gade previously served as MLC from 2007 to 2013 and again from 2013 to 2019. With this victory, he extends his tenure to 18 years, setting a new record with three wins.
Raghu Varma’s defeat has sparked debate on whether teachers signaled their stance on the TDP-Janasena coalition.
The fact that more first-preference votes went to Srinivasulu Naidu and Vijaya Gowri suggests a setback for the alliance. The outcome raises questions about the coalition's influence among educators in Uttarandhra.