Roja, only woman candidate to emerge victorious in district

Tirupati: Out of three women candidates, only YSRCP candidate and film actor-turned-politician R K Roja retained her seat from Nagari. Across the Chittoor district, three women candidates were fray in the present Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

From Putalapattu constituency, Lalitha Thomas has contested as MLA candidate on behalf of TDP. Similarly, former minster Panabaka Lakshmi contested as MP candidate from Tirupati Lok Sabha constituency on TDP ticket.

Among the three women candidates, only Roja won from Nagari Assembly constituency as MLA in the tough competition. Both Panabaka Lakshmi and Lalitha Thomas from Tirupati Lok Sabha and Puthalapattu Assembly constituencies respectively were defeated by the YSRCP candidates.

It may be noted that Pankabaka Lakshmi had resigned from Congress and joined the TDP just before the 2019 elections and contested for the Tirupati Lok Sabha seat. Interestingly, Lalitha Thomas, who contested second time in Assembly elections from Puthalapattu, was defeated by YSRCP candidate Babu. In 2014 election also, she was defeated by former MLA Dr Sunil.