MACHILIPATNAM/VIJAYAWADA:With only one day left for Krishna-Guntur Teachers MLC Constituency election, teachers’ unions are busy campaigning in favour of the candidates supported by them.
In all, six candidates - KS Lakshmana Rao, AS Ramakrishna, Tadi Shakuntala, K Nageswara Rao, G Syamala, D Mariadas - are in the fray. Incumbent Lakshmana Rao is contesting for the third time and he he is supported by UTF. Congress party too is extending its support to him. Rao has a good following among the teachers of both the districts and is well-known for championing their causes.
On the other hand, AS Ramakrishna, who lost in the previous election, is trying his luck this time around with the support of the ruling TDP. Besides, PRTU, STU and 31 other teacher associations have extended their support to him. Though the other four are also contesting, the main contest is expected to be between Lakshmana Rao and Ramakrishna, like in the last elections.
Their fate will be decided by 18,006 voters (Krishna - 9,309; Guntur - 8,697) who will cast their votes at 110 polling stations (Krishna - 51; Guntur - 59) on March 22.
Collectors of both the districts have reviewed the arrangements and said they will act tough against the accused if the complaints of money distribution to the voters is proved. On Friday, some teachers protested against money distrubtion by sporting black gags.