32 MLC candidates in fray for LC elections

Hyderabad, Mar 10 (UNI) As many as 32 candidates, including 20 from the ruling Congress and five from the main opposition Telugu Desam Party, are in the fray for the March 22 Legislative Council elections from the State Assembly when the deadline for withdrawals ended today.

No candidate withdrew from contest, official sources said.

The Congress, which is in a position to win 19 seats with first preference votes 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.

The Congress has a better chance of winning the 20th seat with the help of second preference votes, provided there was no cross voting in the elections.

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

UNI