MLC Polls In AP: Intense Lobbying By Senior Leaders

MLC polls: TDP to field third candidate to dash TRS’ hopes. In a strategy to scuttle the chances of the TRS winning council seat, the TDP decided to field a third candidate with the support of the left parties and others in the polls to be held on March 21. 
    
On its own strength, the TDP can win two council seats but will have a surplus of 19 votes. A candidate needs the support of 29 MLAs to get nominated to the council. The TRS which has 17 members in the assembly has fielded Mahmood Ali and to make up the shortage, the party has sought the support of MIM, which has seven MLAs, as well as those of BJP, CPI, CPM and four independents including Nagam Janardana Reddy. But, except the independents, no party has confirmed its support to the TRS. 
    
“We have approached the left parties and MIM for their support and their response was positive. We hope the TDP will win three seats in the council,” said TDP legislator Revanth Reddy. The TDP which has an effective strength of 77 in the 294-member House is likely to field Mohamad Salim as the third candidate. “The TDP wants to empower BCs, dalits, and minorities, and accordingly the party has fielded a Muslim as the third candidate. And the first two candidates are from BC and Dalit communities,” said Revanth Reddy. 
    
While the left parties and MIM are understood to have decided to back the TDP, the BJP is considering abstaining from voting, leaving the TRS at the verge of defeat. On its part, the TRS said it was unfazed by the adverse development. “We have sought the support of the parties whom we think likeminded. If they don’t want to support us, it is up to them. But, no one can be declared won or defeated until the poll results are announced,” said B Vinod Kumar, a TRS politburo member. 
    
Meanwhile, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu deferred the announcement of party’s candidates for the MLC elections. The party’s politburo meeting, which was held at Alapadu village in Kaikalur constituency to finalise MLC candidates’ names, could not arrive at a decision. Naidu was forced to put off the decision due to intense lobbying for tickets by several senior leaders. As a result, Naidu asked all the politburo members to meet him individually on the issue. 

According to sources, Naidu made up his mind to accommodate leaders from three regions and three communities. Although, Naidu wanted to renominate the party’s floor leader in the legislative council Daadi Veerabhadra Rao from BC quota, pressure from politburo member and senior leader Yanamala Ramakrishnudu made Naidu delay taking a decision, it is learnt. Sources said Naidu had almost shortlisted the names of Daadi Veerabhadra Rao, Mohammed Saleem (Telangana-minority), Samanthakamani (Rayalaseema-SC) for the three seats to be contested by the party. 
    
Sources said another politburo member Kadiyam Srihari too reportedly expressed his willingness to go to the upper house stating that he had already lost two consecutive elections. At least four members - Nandamuri Harikrishna, KE Krishnamurthy, Errabelli Dayakar Rao, Sidda Raghava Rao - abstained from the politburo meeting. Later speaking to reporters, politburo member Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said the list of candidates for the council elections would be finalised soon.