Congress bags more MLC seats from LBs in AP

Hyderabad, Apr 27 (UNI) The ruling Congress party secured 15 out of the 23 MLC seats from the local body constituencies, results for which were declared today.

The Telugu Desam secured four seats, while equal number Independents were successful as votes polled in the MLC elections from the Constituencies were counted.

Two each fromn Krishna and Anantapur districts and one from Kadapa had already been declared elected unopposed.

The elections to the local body constituencies were held on March 17 and the counting was postponed following complaints of electoral malpractices, including casting of open ballots.

The Election Commission of India conducted an inquiry and ordered repoll in four districs of Srikakulam, Nellore, Prakasam and Khammam on April 25.

By virtue of its thumping majority in the Legislative Assembly, the Congress party could bag as many as 21 seats, while the TDP won five seats, CPI two seats, AIMIM and CPI(M) one each.

The dissidence-hit TRS suffered a blow as one of its two MLC candidates from the State Assembly had lost in the cross-voting marred elections. The TRS rebels-backed Independent K Gnaneswar won the seat with ease.

The Legislative Council in Andhra Pradesh, which was scrapped by actor-turned-politician N T Rama Rao, the then Chief Minister in 1984, has been revived after a gap of over two decades as promised by the Congress in its poll manifesto.

The House of elders comprises 90 members, of which 31 are directly elected by the MLAs, 31 from the Local Authorities, eight each from the Graduates and Teachers Constituencies and the remaining 12 nominated by the Governor.

UNI