The by-elections campaigning in the Kadapa and Pulivendula constituencies came to a grinding halt on Sunday when the news of spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba's demise reached there.
Former Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu, who had arrived in the district in the early hours of Sunday by the Venkatadri Express, called off his proposed road-shows on hearing the news about Sathya Sai Baba's demise.
He requested his aides to make arrangements so that he can proceed to Puttaparthi for the seer's last darshan.
Likewise, YSR Congress Party chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, too, hastily called off his electioneering, and proceeded to Puttaparthi immediately.
Earlier, Governor E S L Narasimhan and Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy had flown down to Puttaparthi by a helicopter.
As many as 17 ministers and 80 former/serving MLAs campaigning in the Kadapa and Pulivendula constituencies for various candidates were shocked at hearing the sad news, and stopped the electioneering completely.
Most of the above-mentioned legislators have either reached Puttaparthi or are on their way.
According to sources, the campaigning will assume normalcy after Wednesday, when the last rites of Satya Sai Baba will be performed. (INN)
filed in:Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, Pulivendula, Elections, Puttaparthi