Triangular Contests In LAC Elections

As anticipated by a section of the press, reports of heavy horse trading and distribution of money bags were prominent in the triangular contests in the Local Authority Constituency (LAC) elections held in 8 districts on Monday.

The polls were conducted peacefully, and a total of 6,793 voters exercised their franchise to elect 9 out of 33 candidates. The Congress had fielded 8 candidates, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) fielded 6, and 19 were independent candidates, according to the Chief Electoral Officer's office.

YSR Congress is believed to have fielded independents.

In Kadapa, where YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy has been camping, 4 independents were in the fray against the lone Congress candidate who had the backing of ministers D L Ravinder Reddy, Syed Ahmedullah and Kanna Lakshminarayana, and the 20-Point Chairman Tulasi Reddy.

In Anantapur, the TDP and the Congress fought face-to-face during the poll, while in Nellore district, TDP, Congress and an independent were locked in a triangular contest.

In West Godavari, a TDP candidate faced 8 independents; while in East Godavari, 2 independents fought against the TDP and the Congress.

In Srikakulam, a Congress candidate fought against an independent, whereas 3 independents fought against the Congress and the TDP candidates in Chittoor district. The Chittoor district is Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy's home turf, and his rival Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy had competed against the Congress candidate.

In Kurnool, independents, Congress and TDP candidates were locked in a triangular contest.

Courtesy: INN