Elections Announced for 10 MLC Seats in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
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Synopsis
The Election Commission of India has announced the biennial elections for ten MLC seats in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, with significant political implications for both states. The elections are scheduled for March 20, 2024.
Key Takeaways
- ECI has announced elections for 10 MLC seats.
- Voting scheduled for March 20, 2024.
- Nominations close on March 10, with scrutiny on March 11.
- Retiring MLCs from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh highlighted.
- Parties are strategizing potential seat allocations.
Hyderabad/Amaravati, March 3 (NationPress) The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued notifications on Monday for the biennial elections for five Legislative Council seats in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Members of the Legislative Assembly in these two Telugu states are set to elect the MLCs on March 20.
According to the schedule released by the ECI, candidates can submit their nominations until March 10, with the scrutiny of nominations taking place on March 11. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is March 13.
The 10 MLCs will complete their term on March 29. In Telangana, the outgoing MLCs include Mahmood Ali, Satyavathi Rathod, and Seri Subash Reddy of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), along with Mallesham Yegge, who switched to Congress from BRS last year, and Mirza Riyazul Hassan Effendi of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).
The ruling Congress party is anticipated to secure three seats, while the remaining two may be claimed by the main opposition BRS. It is uncertain whether Congress will allocate a seat to AIMIM, which has become a friendly party following Congress's victory over BRS in November 2023.
AIMIM holds seven seats, while Congress's ally CPI has one seat, making their backing vital for the ruling party.
The BRS, with 28 MLAs, is expected to retain former minister Satyavathi Rathod and nominate a new candidate for the other seat.
The BJP has seven members in the Telangana Assembly.
In Andhra Pradesh, Duvvarapu Rama Rao, Paruchuri Ashok Babu, B. Tirumala Naidu, and Yanamala Rama Krishnudu from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) are retiring on March 29. The position vacated by Janga Krishna Murthy has been unfilled since May 15, 2024, following his disqualification for rebelling against the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).
The TDP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Andhra Pradesh is projected to dominate the elections, thanks to its significant majority in the 175-member Assembly. With 164 MLAs, the coalition is likely to secure all five seats. The TDP may reserve three of these for its allies—two for Jana Sena and one for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Among the key aspirants for MLC tickets from the NDA is actor Nagendra Babu, brother of Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena President Pawan Kalyan.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has already stated that Naga Babu, as he is commonly known, will be included in the Cabinet.
The TDP might nominate two leaders who opted out of last year's Assembly elections to represent alliance partners. SVSN Varma, who stepped back from the Pithapuram constituency for Pawan Kalyan, is expected to be nominated to the Council as promised by Chandrababu Naidu.
Additionally, the TDP may reward senior leader and former minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, who withdrew from the Mylavaram constituency in favor of V. V. Krishna Prasad, who defected to TDP from YSRCP.
