Telangana to hold legislative council election tomorrow

HYDERABAD: The ruling TRS in Telangana appeared to have an edge to get its fifth candidate elected in the election, to be held tomorrow, to fill six seats in the Legislative Council.

The election is necessitated after opposition parties filed disqualification petitions against some MLAs who joined the ruling party post last year's assembly polls and there are seven candidates in fray for six seats in the council, to be voted by the MLAs.

TRS has fielded five candidates while opposition Congress and the TDP-BJP combine have fielded one candidate each.

The TRS had won 63 seats in the 119-member Assembly in last year's elections, but several MLAs from Congress, TDP and YSR Congress joined the ruling party subsequently.

The opposition parties have filed disqualification petitions against such MLAs.

The TRS is now said to enjoy the support of 75 MLAs while a TDP MLA M Krishna Rao reportedly pledged support to the ruling party yesterday.

A group of TDP workers held a protest in the city against his action.

TRS can get its four nominees elected comfortably with the support of 75 MLAs with about 17 first preference votes required to win. But it is dependent on MIM (seven MLAs) and other parties for its fifth nominee to sail through.

Telangana IT and Panchayat Raj Minister K T Rama Rao had spoken to the leaders of MIM, CPI, CPI(M) and also YSR Congress president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy seeking their support to get the fifth candidate elected, according to a release from his staff last week.

YSR Congress today declared its support to TRS in the election, according to a party release.

Congress, which had won 22 seats in last year's election, is expected to sail through as it is assured of the support of 17 of its own members.

The Congress is reportedly conducting a camp for its MLAs to keep its flock together.

The TDP nominee may find the going tough with its strength having depleted. TDP had won 15 seats in the elections last year. The five-member BJP will support its ally TDP.