Cong Cracks the Whip to Corner 'Defectors'

HYDERABAD:  With MLC elections just a few days away, the Congress and TRS on Friday intensified efforts to ensure the victory of their respective candidates. Adopting a two-pronged strategy, the Congress moved the Election Commission in Delhi, seeking free and fair polls, and back in Hyderabad, issued a whip to all of its 22 members to participate in the elections and vote for the party candidate.

The Congress issued the whip to corner its four MLAs, who have joined the TRS following last year’s Assembly elections. The move came even as Congress senior leaders, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Vayalar Ravi, continued their parleys with party MLAs. The duo held one-on-one discussions with 12 MLAs who did not meet them Thursday.  Two MLAs, J Geetha Reddy and Ch Ramamohan Reddy, did not come for various reasons but party sources said they will vote. Azad and Ravi asked the MLAs to show unity and vote in favour of party candidate Akula Lalitha.

In Delhi, Congress MPs Rapolu Anand Bhaskar and MA Khan lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, alleging that the TRS was resorting to undemocratic tactics to the win the polls and urged it to ensure free and fair elections.

The TRS legislature party, on the other hand, met under the chairmanship of party chief and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. Sources said KCR told his MLAs that the party would comfortably win the fifth seat as well. It was decided to conduct mock polling for first-time MLAs to ensure there are no last minute hiccups.