Cong, TDP finalise candidates for AP council poll

The ruling Congress and main Opposition TDP in Andhra Pradesh today announced the names of their candidates for the elections to the Legislative Council scheduled for March 21.
The Congress has fielded AICC secretary P Sudhakar Reddy, former minister Mohd Shabbir Ali, former MLA K Veerabhadra Swamy, party leader Santosh Kumar and sitting MLC Lakshmi Shiva Kumari for the polls, state Congress president B Satyanarayana said.
The TDP has nominated former Assembly Speaker Y Ramakrishnudu, ex-Minister P Samanthakamani and minority leader Mohd Saleem.
TRS and YSR Congress, which have 17 MLAs each in the 294-member assembly, have also fielded a candidate each.

The biennial election to fill 10 vacancies in the Council will be held on March 21.
Congress with 155 MLAs can win five seats while the TDP can manage to get three candidates elected with its strength of 77 and possible help from CPI (4) and CPI(M) (1).

The TDP has also sought the support of MIM (7 MLAs), as it severed its ties with the Congress recently.
Asked if the Congress was planning to field a sixth candidate, the PCC president said the "party will think about it".
Tomorrow is the last day of filing nominations.