Stage set for Council polls from State Assembly

Hyderabad, Mar 21(UNI) Election to 31 seats of the Andhra Pradesh legislative council by the legislative assembly members tomorrow is interestingly poised with Speaker K R Suresh Reddy putting on hold his decision on a TRS petition to disqualify nine of its MLAs ahead of the polls.

A keen contest is on the cards as both the ruling Congress and the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) have fielded more candidates than can win with first preference vote.

Giving an indiction of likely political realignment in Andhra Pradesh, the BJP, which was leading the opposition NDA at the centre, has wooed estranged UPA ally TRS by announcing support to the TRS in the crucial Council polls tommorrow as according to BJP State Chief and former Union Minister of State B Datattreya the TRS was committed to statehood for Telangana.

Defying the party leadership, TRS rebels have announced support to independent candidate K Gnaneswar.

A total of 32 candidates are in the fray for 31 seats. The results of the elections will be announced tomorrow itself.

The ruling Congress, which is in a position to win 19 seats with first preference votes, has fielded an additional candidate, even as the TDP, which can win four seats with first preference votes , has fielded five candidates, hoping that dissident Congress legislators may vote for it in a bid to put the ruling Congress in the State in poor light before the party high command.

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