Cong gets city MLC seat

Prabhakar only contestant A A Hyderabad: Hectic behind-the-scene lobbying has helped the Congress party in ensuring that its candidate M S Prabhakar gets re-elected to the lone MLC seat unopposed under the local bodies' quota from Hyderabad. Prabhakar was the only candidate who filed the nomination on Monday, the last day for filing nominations. Returning Officer and GHMC Special Commissioner Navin Mittal said the scrutiny of nominations would take place on Tuesday at 11 am. The last date for withdrawal of candidature would be March 28. Since Prabhakar was the only candidate, he would be declared as unanimous winner on Thursday, Mittal added. It may be recalled that the MIM had also contemplated to contest the MLC polls and the party floor leader in the Assembly Akbaruddin Owa- isi met the TDP and Congress leaders and sought their support. A On its part the Congress leadership swung into action and started holding negotiations with the MIM. According to Congress sources, Akbar was not in favour of leaving the seat uncontested but was finally prevailed upon by his brother and president of the MIM Asaduddin Owaisi not to field any candidate against Prabhakar.