Amaravathi: Andhra Pradesh’s ruling YSR Congress Party was heading for a massive victory in Atmakur Assembly by-election. YSRCP’s M. Vikram Reddy established a lead of over 66,000 votes over his nearest rival G. Bharat Kumar of the BJP.

The by-election was necessitated by the death of industries minister M. Goutham Reddy in February this year. The ruling party fielded Goutham Reddy’s brother M. Vikram Reddy.

Pawan Kalyan-led Jana Sena Party, an ally of BJP, also stayed away from the by-poll. The BJP contested the by-poll in tune with its principled stand not to encourage politics of inheritance by leaving the elections uncontested when an incumbent passes away.