Hyderabad, Dec 5 (IANS) Y.S. Vijayalakshmi, widow of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, was Saturday elected unopposed to the state assembly.
With no party fielding a candidate in the by-election to the Pulivendula assembly seat in Kadapa district, she was declared elected unopposed.

The by-election was necessitated by Rajasekhara Reddy’s death. YSR, as he was popularly known, died in a helicopter crash Sep 2.

Saturday being the last day for withdrawal of nominations, returning officer B. Gopal declared Viijayalakshmi elected. The by-election was scheduled to be held Dec 19.

The main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) and the left parties had decided against fielding candidates following an appeal by Chief Minister K. Rosaiah to all the opposition parties to facilitate the unanimous election of YSR’s widow.

Lok Satta had decided to contest but opted out as it failed to identify a strong candidate. No independent entered the fray.

Though Vijayalakshmi was reluctant to contest and YSR’s family wanted a ticket for YSR’s son Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, they had to abide by the decision of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

The party leadership, which has already turned down the demand from YSR loyalists to make Jaganmohan Reddy the chief minister, told him to continue as the Kadapa MP.

Pulivendula has always been the pocket borough of YSR’s family. YSR, who was elected from this constituency six times and also represented the Kadapa in the Lok Sabha, held the record of never losing an election in his political career.