RS election: Rebel candidate poses concern for Andhra Congress

A majority of the Seemandhra Congressmen want to prove their might by defeating the party's official nominee

The prospect of an upset worries the ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh as it faces a threat from rebel candidate in the biennial election to Rajya Sabha slated for tomorrow.

The election will also be a test of loyalty for the Congress leaders from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions as they claim to be championing the cause of a united state, fighting against their own party.

Seven candidates are in fray for six seats in the election to be held from 9 AM to 4 PM in the state Legislative Assembly tomorrow. Of the seven contestants, three belong to Congress, two to Telugu Desam, one is from Telangana Rashtra Samiti and one Independent, who is a Congress 'rebel'.

Counting of votes will be taken up at 5 PM, according to Legislature Secretary S Raja Sadaram.

A majority of the Seemandhra Congressmen, seething over the high command's "high-handed approach" to the state bifurcation issue, want to prove their might by defeating the party's official nominee. However, Congress has engaged the rebel to make him fall in line even at the eleventh hour.

Sitting MP T Subbarami Reddy, who is seeking a third consecutive term for Rajya Sabha, may face an apple task.

The prospect of defeat also stares at TRS' K Keshava Rao who, on paper, does not have the required numbers to clinch victory. But, he hopes the Telangana factor may help him secure required number of votes of legislators from the region, irrespective of the party affiliation.

Given its current number of 146 in the Assembly that has an effective strength of 279 MLAs, the Congress seems comfortable in ensuring win of its three official candidates - Subbarami Reddy, KVP Ramachandra Rao and M A Khan.

A candidate needs a minimum of 37-39 votes to win the Rajya Sabha seat from the state.

Khan hails from Telangana and is likely to have full support of legislators from the region, while KVP - a close associate of late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy - has a strong network of supporters among the MLAs.