Nomination papers of 32 MLC candidates in order

Hyderabad, Mar 8 (UNI) The nomination papers of 32 candidates, including 20 from the ruling Congress and five from the main opposition Telugu Desam Party, for the March 17 Legislative Council elections from the State Assembly were found in order today.

Announcing this after scrutiny, Returning Officer for the polls Tuljanand Singh, also the State Legislature Secretary, overruled objections raised by the opposition TDP over the alleged irregularities in submission of forms 'AA' and 'BB' by the ruling Congress candidates.

''The nomination papers of all the contestants are in order,'' Mr Singh said.

A keen contest is on the cards as the Congress, which is in a position to win 19 seats with its strength in the State Assembly after offering three seats to its allies, fielded 20 nominees, while the TDP, which could win four after extending support to its ally Communist Party of India(Marxist), fielded candidates for five seats.

Two candidates each from the CPI and Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and one AIMIM nominee and an independent supported by TRS rebels have entered the fray.

Submitting a memorandum to Mr Singh, TDP Legislature Party Deputy Leader N Janardhan Reddy demanded rejection of the nominations filed by the Congress candidates claiming that Election Commission rules relating to submission of 'AA' and ''BB'' forms were not followed by them.

UNI