Contest inevitable for TS MLC poll

7 in fray for 6 seats

• TRS fields 5th candidate making poll interesting n TDP moves the High Court for disqualification of 3 MLAs
• Srinivas Yadav mentioned as TDP MLA n Election Commission urged to disqualify Ch Ramesh for holding dual citizenship

Hyderabad: Contest is now inevitable in the election for the six vacant seats of the Legislative Council in Telangana State, as there are seven candidates in the fray. The time for withdrawal of nomination ended on Monday and all the seven candidates who filed their nominations, remained in the fray.

Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari, minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, Neti Vidyasagar, Bodakunta Venkateswarlu and Yadava Reddy are contesting on behalf of the ruling TRS, Akula Lalitha is from the Congress and Vem Narender Reddy is from the TDP-BJP combine. The ruling TRS, with its strength in the Assembly, could win four seats. But, it has fielded the fifth candidate also, making the contest inevitable and interesting.

With just few days left for the polls, Telugu Desam Party on Monday began a legal battle against three MLAs for switching loyalties to the ruling TRS. The Telugu Desam leader E Dayakar Rao on Monday moved the High Court and filed a house motion appealing for disqualification of its MLAs T Srinivas Yadav, Teegala Krishna Reddy and Challa Dharma Reddy from exercising their franchise in the MLC elections.

In a related development, Telangana Legislature Secretary Raja Sadaram released a list of voters (MLAs) with their party affiliation citing Srinivas Yadav, as the TD MLA. The list comprises of all the seven candidates contesting for six MLC seats for which elections will be held on June 1 and followed by results on the same evening.

Along with Talasani, two other TDP MLAs who switched over to the TRS were Teegala Krishna Reddy and Dharma Reddy. It may be noted here that the TDP repeatedly tried in vain urging the Speaker S Madhusudhana Chary to disqualify the MLAs for defecting to the ruling party.

Meanwhile TDP candidate for MLC post Vem Narender Reddy today urged the Election Commission not to allow Ch Ramesh, who was disqualified by the High Court, to exercise his vote in the MLC elections scheduled to be held on June 1 as he holds dual citizenship. In a letter to the Election Commission, Narender Reddy said the party has sent a letter on May 21 and 22 seeking action against returning officer Sadaram and Ch Ramesh. He wanted to know what action has been taken in this regard.