Hyderabad, Sept 18: The multi-crore fake stamp paper scam would not have any negative impact on BJP's prospects in the by-election to Karwan Assembly constituency in the city, slated for September 26, the party's candidate B Balreddy said today. "It is an issue concerning an individual (TDP legislator and former Minister C Krishna Yadav). The TDP has already expelled him and the case will not have any impact on the bypoll", Balreddy said.

As part of an electoral alliance, the ruling TDP is supporting BJP candidate in the bypoll which was necessitated following the death of Syed Sajjad (MIM) who represented the constituency. Balreddy, who had represented the constituency in the past before unsuccessfully contesting Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat in the 1999 polls, said his party was not opposed to formation of separate Telangana state, a demand that is growing in the backward region.

"In fact, we (BJP) had passed a resolution (before the 1999 elections) favouring statehood for Telangana. Since we are now bound by NDA agenda and can't force our agenda on our allies, we have decided not to raise the issue till 2004", Balreddy said while participating in a 'meet the press' programme organised by Hyderabad Union Of Journalists (HUJ).

All the four contestants, Amar Singh (Congress), Balreddy (BJP), Mukhtada Khan (MIM) and Kishan Rao (TRS), shared a common platform, interacting with the media and outlining their party policies and agenda for the coming bypoll. Bureau Report