The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Congress MLCs eye general elections

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Sunday, Jan 11, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Congress MLCs eye general elections

Term of members in the 87-member House comes to end on March 29 and 30

Ponnala may be a challenge for Rajalingam in Cherial
At least four MLCs keen on contesting in general elections

HYDERABAD: A number of Congress Members of Legislative Council, whose two-year term ends in March this year, are eyeing the general elections instead of seeking a second term.

Elections to the 16 vacancies from the Legislative Assembly, local authorities, graduates and teachers constituencies are scheduled next month.

The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for elections to one Local Authorities Constituency (LAC), two graduates and teachers’ constituencies each.

The term of the members in the 87-member House comes to end on March 29 and 30 respectively.

At least four of the 11 Congress MLCs who were elected by MLAs are keen on fighting the coming general elections. They reportedly include seniors like Kanumuri Bapiraju, K. Yadava Reddy, N. Rajalingam and G. Thippeswamy. Mr. Bapiraju and Yadava Reddy are understood to have expressed their desire to take a shot at the Parliamentary elections from Narsapur and Chevella constituencies respectively.

Similarly, Mr. Rajalingam wants to go back to the Cherial Assembly constituency, which he represented till 2004.

Tough competition

But he could face tough competition from Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah who wants to shift to Cherial following Jangaon constituency being abolished due to delimitation. Former Anantapur ZP chairman G. Thippeswamy is said to be eyeing an Assembly constituency in the district.

Balancing act

Party sources said Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and APCC president D. Srinivas plan to do a balancing act in retaining some of the Council members because of their short two-year stint.

They include K. R. Amos, Singam Basavapunnaiah, R. Padmaraju, Peer Ahmed Shabbir, Palvai Goverdhan Reddy and Mr. Manik Rao.

As announced earlier by the party, Finance Minister K. Rosaiah will be accommodated from one of the vacancies.

The re-nomination of Ilapuram Venkaiah, elected from Krishna LAC, appears sure as Mr Venkaiah hails from weaker section. In the same manner, the party might retain Mala Mahanadu leader Jupudi Prabhakar Rao, B. Kamalakar Rao and Shaik Hussain from the Governor’s quota but the fate of Revu Ratna Kumari is not yet known.

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