All four major political parties, including the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi, are trying to ensure the unanimous election of their candidates for the six MLCs seats, to be elected by MLAs, for whom the notification will be issued on May 14.
Going by the strength in the State Legislative Assembly, the TRS can get four seats while the Congress and TDP-BJP combine would get one each. In case, the TRS decides to field fifth candidate, then polling would be inevitable. However, according to sources, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao wants the election to be unanimous. With the support of 10 rebel MLAs, including four each of Congress and TDP, and seven MLAs of MIM, the TRS can easily win an additional seat. But, KCR reportedly wants to avoid the risk of exposing the rebel MLAs to Anti-Defection Law. In case of polling, the Congress and TDP would issue whips which would consequently result in disqualification of rebel MLAs if they vote in favour of TRS candidate.
Meanwhile, the parties have begun the exercise to shortlist their candidates for the MLC polls. The candidature of Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari, R&B Minister Tummala Nageshwara Rao and ex-MLC Yadav Reddy as TRS nominees is almost certain. There are over half-a-dozen contenders for the fourth seat.
Similarly, the Congress party is reportedly considering the candidature of TPCC Mahila Congress chief Akula Lalitha although former PCC chiefs D Srinivas and Ponnala Lakshmaiah and ex-minister D Sridhar Babu too have been trying hard to get themselves nominated for the lone seat.
Likewise, the TDP is most likely to nominate its candidate for MLC polls as it has supported the BJP candidates in the Graduates constituencies’ elections.
The notification for these MLC polls will be issued on May 14 and last date for making nominations will be May 21. Polling, if required, will be held on 1st June and counting of votes will commence on the same day at 5 PM. (INN)