AP court sets aside legislator's election

The Andhra Pradesh high court on Friday set aside the election of Shoba Hymavathi, Telugu Desam Party legislator from Srunguvarapukota [Scheduled Tribe-reserved] constituency in Vizianagaram district.

Justice C Y Somayajulu allowed three election petitions filed by a voter, J Satya Rao, and unsuccessful candidates Dukku Labudu Bariki [Anna-TDP] and Setti Gangadhara Swami [Congress].

It was contended that Hymavathi, who was elected in 1999, did not belong to the Scheduled Tribe community.

The petitioners argued that she was born in a Patnaik [upper- caste] family and her marriage to a tribal did not entitle her to contest from a reserved constituency.