Date:25/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/25/stories/2008042558090200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Bypoll generates interest

The general elections are just about a year away yet bypolls for the city constituencies of Secunderabad, Musheerabad and Khairatabad has generated much interest.

If the election of P. Janardhan Reddy’s son – P. Vishnuvardhan Reddy is more or less assured with all parties except the TRS agreeing not to contest, the electoral fight in the other two constituencies will be keenly watched.

The Congress fielding T. Manemma for Musheerabad has set the tongues wagging. Can she withstand the candidature of BJP’s Dr. K. Laxman? Will he himself contest if his party decides to opt out on the separate State issue?

How long will TDP wait for the CPI(M) to make up its mind? Does it have a candidate in mind? Will Srinivas Yadav take his revenge against TRS Padma Rao in Secunderabad since he has been assiduously nurturing the constituency? Intriguing days ahead, surely.

V. GEETANATH