Ganti Vijaya Kumari

Ganti Vijaya Kumari
MP, Lok Sabha
In office 2002–2004
Preceded by	G. M. C. Balayogi
Succeeded by	G. V. Harsha Kumar
Constituency	Amalapuram
Personal details
Political party	Telugu Desam Party
Spouse	G. M. C. Balayogi

Vijaya Kumari Ganti is a former member of the 13th Lok Sabha from Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh. She is the widow of Lok Sabha speaker G.M.C. Balayogi and won the by-election (2002) conducted after his death.

Career

The sudden death of Amalapuram MP and Lok Sabha Speaker Ganti Mohana Chandra Balayogi necessitated a by-election for the reserved constituency.[1] Before fielding Balayogi's widow Ganti for the seat, senior members of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) were considering her nomination to the Rajya Sabha.[2] Ganti herself, being in a state of shock, was reluctant to contest the election and Balyogi's family wanted his sister to succeed him.[3][4]

The Indian National Congress (INC) didn't contest the by-election and TDP had thought Ganti would win unopposed.[5] Even a legislator of Bharatiya Janata Party was present when she filed her nomination.[6] Only Bahujan Samaj Party and Republican Party of India placed their candidates against her and both forfeited their security deposit. She won by a margin of 3,13,660 votes.[1]

Ganti took her oath of office on the first day of the 2002 monsoon session of the Lok Sabha.[7] For the next general election TDP made Dunna Janardhana Rao its official candidate instead of her.[8]

The spouses of the speakers of Lok Sabha are provided a house in New Delhi. Ganti, however, faced trouble in getting a house allocated.[9]

Personal life

Vijaya Kumari married G.M.C. Balayogi on 16 April 1982. Together they had one son and three daughters.[10] Balayogi died in a helicopter accident on 3 March 2002.[11]

References

1. "Landslide win for TDP candidate". The Hindu. 3 June 2002. Retrieved 3 November 2017.^[dead link‍]
2. Sarma, Ramu (9 March 2002). "TDP leaders want RS berth for Balayogi's wife". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
3. "Naidu persuades Balayogi's wife". The Times of India. 5 May 2002. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
4. Messias, Lionel (2 May 2002). "TDP to field Balayogi's wife from Amalapuram seat". Gulf News. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
5. "Balayogi's widow wins from Amalapuram". The Times of India. 3 June 2002. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
6. "Balayogi's wife files nomination". The Hindu. 10 May 2002. Retrieved 3 November 2017.^[dead link‍]
7. "Thirteenth Lok Sabha: Session 10 Date 15-07-2002". Lok Sabha. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
8. Press Trust of India (26 March 2004). "TDP drops Balayogi's wife". Rediff.com. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
9. Messias, Lionel (27 March 2004). "Balayogi's wife dumped by Naidu". Gulf News. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
10. "Balayogi, Shri Ganti Mohana Chandra – Biographical Sketch of Member of 12th Lok Sabha". IndiaPress. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
11. "Balayogi killed in copter crash". The Hindu. 4 March 2002. Retrieved 3 November 2017.^[dead link‍]