Date:08/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/08/stories/2007030805480600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh Council polls intriguingly poised

Special Correspondent

32 file papers; Congress, TDP put up one extra candidate each

HYDERABAD: Thirtytwo candidates filed their nominations, one more than the actual strength of parties, on Wednesday, leaving the elections to the Legislative Council from the MLAs quota intriguingly poised in Andhra Pradesh.

Accusations

With the Congress and Telugu Desam fielding one extra candidate each and Kasani Gyaneshwar throwing his hat into the ring as an independent with the support of TRS rebel MLAs and a BJP legislator, accusations of horse- trading are flying thick and fast.

As the two major players are keen on ensuring the victory of all their candidates, their strategists are busy working out fractions as the system of preferential voting will be implemented. Suddenly, the second preference votes have become important with both these parties eyeing them, having allotted the first preference ones. After obtaining the support of ten MLAs, Mr. Gyaneshwar is believed to be in touch with four or five more legislators so as not to leave anything to chance.

The Congress and the TDP, which had kept the names of their additional candidates under wraps till the last moment, declared them on Wednesday. While Congress named K. Lakshmi Durgesh of East Godavari as its 20th candidate, the TDP named P. Yadagiri as its fifth.

Both main parties exuded confidence about the victory of these two candidates. TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu said meticulous calculations had been done and the party's fifth candidate would romp home. On the other hand, APCC president K. Keshava Rao suggested that the TDP withdraw its additional candidate honourably rather than allow him to face an ignominious defeatOfficially, each candidate requires 9.22 votes to win the elections but going by their strength in the House.