Hyderabad: Polling process for election of
ten members to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council from the Assembly began Thursday morning with state Forest Minister Satrucharla Vijayarama Raju casting the first vote.
Twelve candidates ? five of ruling Congress, three of
principal opposition Telugu Desam and one each of Praja
Rajyam, Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Telangana Rashtra Samiti
and Communist Party of India ? are in fray for the 10 seats.
While the Congress is supporting the PRP and the MIM
candidates, the TDP is supporting the CPI nominee.
The TRS has only 11 MLAs in the 294-member House and can
muster support of two BJP members but it requires 27 first
preference votes to get its candidate Mohammad Ali elected to
the Council.
As many as 20 Congress and two each of PRP and TDP MLAs
attended a meeting this morning at the residence of rebel
leader Y S Jaganmohan Reddy to discuss their strategy in the
election. As they are not bound by any party whip, these MLAs
loyal to Jagan are expected to exercise a "conscience vote"
though all of the Congress and the PRP MLAs have promised
their respective parties that they would vote for the official
candidates.
There is, however, speculation that some of the Jagan
loyalists might vote for the TRS as part of a tacit
understanding.
The Congress re-nominated Council Deputy Chairman
Mohammad Jani and sitting MLCs Paladugu Venkata Rao and
Changalrayudu, who all would retire this month end after a
four-year term.
Besides, it fielded Sudhakar Babu of Kurnool district as
its fourth official nominee. At the last minute, it brought in
former Youth Congress leader M Ranga Reddy of Ranga Reddy
district as the fifth candidate.
PTI
