Mon Mar 03 18:10:44 UTC 2025: **Andhra Pradesh Teacher Wins Legislative Council Seat**
VISAKHAPATNAM, March 3, 2025 – Gade Srinivasulu Naidu of the Progressive Recognised Teachers’ Union (PRTU) has won the biennial election to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council from the North Coastal Andhra Pradesh Teachers’ Constituency. Naidu secured 12,035 votes, exceeding the quota of 10,068 votes needed after the elimination of other candidates. His nearest rival, Pakalapati Raghu Varma of the Andhra Pradesh Teachers’ Federation (APTF), received 8,527 votes.
The counting of 20,791 votes cast on February 27th took place on Monday at Andhra University College of Engineering. 656 votes were declared invalid. The election was closely watched, with the presence of all ten candidates, the Returning Officer, an election observer, and Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner Shanka Brata Bagchi ensuring security and transparency.
Naidu, a three-time winner of the seat (previously winning in 2007 and 2013), attributed his victory to the support of teachers and his campaign promises, which focused on the cancellation of the Contributory Pension System (CPS) and the revocation of G.O. No. 117, which led to school closures and teacher job losses. Raghu Varma, who won in 2019, conceded the election, stating that he did not believe the result was influenced by the support he received from the ruling coalition government.
The PRTU president, Mitta Krishnaiah, highlighted the unusual political involvement in this election, noting that political parties did not typically participate in teacher MLC elections, but that this time, the APTF candidate received support from the TDP and Jana Sena Party, unlike Naidu’s campaign.
First Piper 