Contest likely in Telangana Legislative Council election

A contest for the election to fill six vacancies in the Telangana Legislative Council is likely as seven candidates filed nominations on the last day today, with opposition alleging that the ruling TRS was encouraging malpractices to win an extra seat.
TRS has fielded five candidates while the opposition Congress and TDP-BJP combine put up one candidate each.
"Of six vacancies, we are thinking of winning five. We are hopeful of getting that support. There is a possibility of those (MLAs) from other parties also voting for us in view of the development and welfare programmes being implemented under the leadership of (Chief Minister) K Chandrashekar Rao," Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari said here.

MLAs would be voting in the election. In the last year's Assembly elections, TRS won 63 seats out of the total 119, but several MLAs from other parties including Congress, TDP and YSR Congress crossed over to TRS later. These parties have filed disqualification petitions against these MLAs.
The TRS reportedly enjoys the support of 75 MLAs and it can win four seats on its own with votes of 18 MLAs required as first preference for each seat. It is banking on the support of MIM and others to win a fifth seat.
Telangana Congress president and MLA N Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that the ruling party was resorting to corrupt politics and trying to lure MLAs from other parties.

Congress would like to approach Supreme Court seeking an open ballot to elect MLCs as in the case of Rajya Sabha polls, and the nominated MLAs should not have voting rights, he said.
BJP floor leader in the Assembly K Laxman, who declared support of his party to ally TDP, said the government should see to it that a unanimous election takes place.
May 25 is the last date for withdrawing nominations and the election, if necessary, would be held on June 1.