YSRCP announces candidates for graduate MLC polls

AMARAVATI: YSR Congress Party president and Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy finalised the candidates for three graduate MLC seats on Tuesday. Chairman of Brahmana Corporation S. Sudhakar would contest from erstwhile Visakhapatnam-Vizianagaram-Srikakulam districts.

Shyam Prasad Reddy from Gudur constituency was fielded for erstwhile Prakasam-Nellore-Chittoor district graduate seat. Vennapusa Ravi would compete for the Kurnool-Kadapa-Anantapur graduate seat.

Jagan said that the YSRCP did not prioritise the graduates' and teachers' MLC elections in the past. The party leaders also said that they hadn't extended support to party members who were keen on contesting.They said that they had seen situations where candidates who were supported by the YSRCP did not support the party's policies in the Legislative Council whenever it was needed.

After reviewing the comments made by party leaders, the YSRCP, which didn't disclose its stand on the graduate MLC elections, finally decided to field its candidates after YSRCP MLAs and MLCs unanimously wanted the party to contest. The party sources said that the candidates were announced only for the graduate MLC election. It was decided that selection of nominees for the teachers' MLC elections would be taken up as well but the names were yet to be disclosed.

Jagan said that before the graduate elections special attention should be given to voter enrollment. He said that it was the responsibility of the party leaders to take steps and ensure that every single voter exercised their right to vote.