AP Legislative Council elections on March 17

New Delhi, Feb 9: The Election Commission has decided to holdelections to Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council on March 17 to helpreconstitution of the House after a gap of two decades.

The 90-member Council will have 31 members elected from the StateAssembly, 28 to be elected from local authorities and eight each fromthe Graduates' and Teachers constituencies. Twelve members are to benominated by state Governor Surjit Singh Barnala.

The EC, however, decided not to hold elections for three LocalAuthorities seats -- two from Hyderabad and one from Ranga Reddyconstituencies, till the strength of their members as well as localbodies in position are 75 per cent or more.

The term of these constituencies are expiring tomorrow. Electorsposition in Ranga Reddy Local Authorities Constituency was about 63 percent as on date. Hence the elections could not be held from thisconstituencies.

The term of members elected at the elections shall be determinedafter the completion of elections, in accordance with the provisions ofSection 156 (1) of the Representation of the People Act 1951.

For the elections from the state Assembly, the notification willbe issued on February 28 and last date for nominations will be March 7and the scrutiny on March 8. Last date for withdrawal will be on March10.

For Local Authorities and Teachers and Graduates' constituencies,the notification will be issued on February 15 and last date for thenomination will be on February 22. Scrutiny will be on February 23 andlast date for withdrawal will be on March 26.

The counting for Assembly elections will be on March 17. For theLocal Authorities elections, the counting will be on March 21 and forthe Teachers and Graduates' Constituencies, it will be on March 23.

All the elections shall have to be completed by March 26, an EC release said.

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