LC polls begin in AP

Hyderabad, Mar 17 (UNI) Polling began peacefully this morning for 42 seats to the Legislative Council from Local Authority Constituencies (LACs) and teachers' and graduate constituencies in Andhra Pradesh.

Barring minor incidents between rival political parties, polling to 26 LAC, eight Graduates' and eight Teachers' seats was progressing smoothly, official sources said.

Both, the ruling Congress and the opposition TDP, are facing rebel problems with as many as 280 candidates vying for eight seats under the graduates' constituencies and 95 for an equal number of teachers' constituency seats.

Congress candidate Ilapuram Venkaiah and TDP nominee Y Babu Rajendraprasad were already elected unopposed from two LAC seats in the politically-vibrant Krishna district, a report from Vijayawada said.

UNI