Andhra Pradesh: Council elections schedule announced

Hyderabad, Feb 8 (PTI) The Election Commission todayannounced the schedule for biennial elections to sixconstituencies of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council.

The elections will be held for three each of theGraduates'' constituencies and Teachers'' constituencies, stateChief Electoral Office Bhanwar Lal told reporters.

The three Graduates'' constituencies are: Srikakulam,Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts; Prakasam-Nellore--Chittoor districts and Kadapa-Anantapur and Kurnooldistricts.

The three Teachers'' constituencies are: Prakasam-Nellore-Chittoor districts, Kadapa-Anantapur-Kurnool districts andMahabubnagar-Ranga Reddy-Hyderabad districts.

The notification for the polls will be issued onFebruary 15, the last date for withdrawal of nominations isFebruary 22, scrutiny of nominations will take place onFebruary 23, last date for withdrawal of candidatures isFebruary 25 and the date of polling is March 13.

Counting of votes would take place on March 15 andthe process of elections should be completed by March 21.

The code of conduct comes into force immediately and anyminister should not make official visit to any district inwhich the biennial elections are being held, Bhanwar Lal said.

Asked if the government can go ahead with itsprestigious ''Rachabanda'' (village junction) mass-contactprogramme, in which ration cards are distributed, he said hewould seek the clarification from the EC if any queries areraised by the district election officers.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy is scheduled toparticipate in the programme this week in Kadapa whereelections are going to be held.