Congress to stay away from MLC election on Tuesday

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Uttam Kumar Reddy and CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka said on Monday that the party's decision to boycott the poll was in protest against the violation of the constitution and democratic norms by the ruling TRS.

Charging that the Chief Minister himself was encouraging defections, they said that that the developments related to the Member of Legislative Council (MLC) polls would be made a national issue by bringing it to the notice of other parties.
In the Assembly elections held in December last, the Congress won 19 seats but with four of its MLAs deciding to defect to TRS, the party was left with 15 MLAs. It requires 21 MLAs support to get the MLC elected.The Congress had fielded its candidate banking on the support of its ally TDP which had won two seats but one of the TDP MLA had also decided to leave the party.

With the boycott of the Congress, the MLC poll is expected to a smooth affair.
Meanwhile, during the ruling TRS legislature party meeting with Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao presiding, a mock MLC poll was conducted at Telangana Bhavan, the party headquarters during the course of the day.

The meeting was attended by all the ruling party legislators and a lone Majlis MLC candidate.

The mock poll will be conducted on Tuesday morning.