One TDP, 5 Cong candidates elected to Rajya Sabha

Hyderabad, Mar 19 (UNI) Five Congress candidates, including Union Minister of State for Mines T Subbirami Reddy and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's political advisor K V P Ramachander Rao, and a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) nominee were declared elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from the Andhra Pradesh Assembly today.

With the deadline for withdrawing nominations closing at 1500 hrs, all the six candidates were declared elected unopposed to fill the six vacancies in the Upper House.

Mr Nandamuri Harikrishna, son of former Chief Minister and TDP founder N T Rama Rao, was elected from the TDP, while Mr Nandi Yellaiah, Mr M A Khan and Ms T Ratna Bai (all Congress) were declared elected by state Legislature Secretary T Tuljanand Singh, the Returning Officer.

The new candidates will fill the vacancies, arising out of the retirement of four TDP members and two Congress candidates in April next. Both the retiring Congress candidates, including the Union Minister of State, were re-elected unopposed.

UNI DB/AP VA KD AS1741