Lobbying intensifies as RS elections become inevitable

Hyderabad, Jan 31 : After facing the heat of Telangana Bill, the politics in Andhra Pradesh is preparing for yet another round of showdown during Rajya Sabha elections.

After almost 15 years, a contest has become inevitable for the six Rajya Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh as seven candidates, including a Congress rebel, are in fray. The rebel candidate, Adala Prabhakar Reddy, has refused to withdraw his candidature even as the deadline for withdrawal of nominations ended on Thursday afternoon. Another rebel candidate, KVV Satyanarayana Raju alias Chaitanya Raju, has withdrawn his candidature following the intervention of Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy.

The sitting Congress MLA Adala entered the Rajya Sabha election fray on the Samaikyandhra plank. He was backed by JC Diwakar Reddy and others.

Of the seven candidates, three – T Subbrami Reddy, K V P Ramachandra Rao and M A Khan – belong to the ruling Congress, Thota Seetarama Lakshmi and Garikapati Mohan Rao to the main opposition Telugu Desam Party and K Keshava Rao to the Telangana Rashtra Samiti, besides the Congress rebel candidate Adala.

Analysts say that if Adala was really enjoying the support of Congress MLAs, then the results might go against one of the three official candidates of Congress party or the lone candidate of TRS. In view of changed circumstances, the candidates have intensified lobbying with the legislators to ensure their victory.  INN