KURNOOL: The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) sprang a surprise on Thursday by nominating P. Radhakrishna, former journalist, to contest the Legislative Council poll its behalf from the local authorities pool here on Thursday. He will be pitted against former IPS officer T. Srinivasulu of the Congress.

The TDP took the decision at the last minute to cash in on the resentment among a section of Congress leaders against Mr. Srinivasulu.

After handing over the A and B forms to Mr. Radhakrishna, TDP district president Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy appealed to voters (representatives in the local bodies) to "vote according to their conscience" in order to express their resentment against the adamant attitude of the Congress Government against transferring the powers to them.

Mr. Reddy said voting was the only opportunity to the local bodies' representatives to convey their resentment to the Government, which according to him, trampled upon the rights of local bodies.

Miracles expected

Out of an electoral college of 1014, the Congress had strength of 595, TDP 328, CPI 29, BJP 1, CPI 15 and the rest were independents.

Mr. Byreddy asked the cadre present at his residence not to get demoralised seeing the numbers as miracles were going to happen in the election.

"Mr. Radhakrishna will win," he said and asked him not to worry about money as the TDP was behind him.

Meanwhile, the Congress camp, which sensed the intention of the TDP was busy preparing the counter strategy. Minister for Lift Irrigation M. Mareppa said he would take the responsibility of keeping the Congress flock together and apprise the party high command on a day-to-day basis. The reaction from the party would be serious in case of any "ditching", he said.

70 file papers

Anantapur Staff Reporter writes: The roads of Anantapur town were choked with a large number of vehicles of supporters of candidates who were here to file nomination papers for Rayalaseema west graduates' and teachers' constituencies and Anantapur local bodies' constituencies. In all, 70 candidates filed papers including 53 for graduates' constituencies, 14 for teachers' constituencies and three for local bodies' constituencies.

On Thursday, 32 candidates had filed papers for graduates', five for teachers' and three for Local bodies' constituencies.

Most of the candidates who filed their papers went to the collectorate in a convoy of vehicles with their supporters leading the processions bursting crackers and playing music.

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