VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's son Nara Lokesh and six others were elected unanimously to the AP Legislative Council in the MLAs' quota on Wednesday. This paves way for Lokesh’s entry into the state Cabinet, which is expected to take place after the budget session of the Assembly.
Electoral officials declared TDP general secretary Lokesh, four other TDP nominees and two YSR Congress candidates elected unanimously in the seven seats in the MLAs' quota.
The formal election to the seven seats in the Legislative Council was scheduled for March 20. However, with both the ruling and opposition parties fielding five and two candidates respectively as per their floor strength, officials declared all of them elected unanimously.
The candidates will be given their election certificates on Thursday.
Apart from Lokesh, the others who are elected to the Legislative Council are: Karanam Balarama Krishna Murthy, Dokka Manikya Varaprasada Rao, P Sunitha, B Arjunudu (all from TDP) Gangula Prabhakar Reddy and A Nani (both from YSRC).
Meanwhile, arrangements have been made for MLC election in Teachers and Graduates constituencies to be held on Thursday.
According to chief electoral officer Bhanwarlal, polling would be held from 8 am to 6 pm on Thursday and counting would take place on March 20.
Bhanwarlal said that mobile phones would not be allowed inside the polling stations. Voters can show any photo-identity proof such as passport, Aadhaar card and PAN card. Voters are allowed to avail casual leave on Thursday. Violet sketch pens will be supplied to voters to mark their preferential votes.
All the examinations scheduled for Thursday have been postponed to later dates.