The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Poll under MLAs quota on March 22

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Sunday, Mar 11, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Poll under MLAs quota on March 22

Special Correspondent

Congress eyes second preference votes, TDP looks at "possible lapses"

HYDERABAD: With the ruling Congress and the Opposition Telugu Desam not budging from their decision to field additional candidates, election to the Legislative Council under the MLAs quota has become inevitable.

The election, which has become mandatory following the presence of 32 contestants for the 31-member MLAs quota in the Council, will be held on March 22. Voting will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. followed by counting immediately.

The Congress had decided to go ahead with K. Lakshmi Durgesh as its 20th candidate and the TDP with P. Yadagiri as its fifth nominee. They rejected the appeal of the CPI (M) and the TRS not to field additional candidates and to ensure unanimous election.

Schedule announced

When the deadline for withdrawal of nominations came to a close at 3 p.m., the Returning Officer K. Tuljanand Singh announced the election schedule.

As things stand, the Congress is in a position to win 19 seats and TDP four, both without difficulty. The Congress has decided to support two CPI candidates and one of the MIM. The TDP, on its part, is backing the sole CPI (M) nominee while the TRS has fielded two candidates and its rebels have nominated an independent.

The Congress is now banking on the strength of the second preference votes cast by its members and its allies that would ensure the victory of its 20th candidate. The TDP, which is against seeking the help of the Congress or its allies, is learnt to be pinning hopes on the "possible lapses" during the voting that would ensure its candidate to scrape through.

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