AP LINE CLEAR

There are three new vacancies created for the AP Legislative Council after Parliament approved increasing the Council’s strength from 50 to 58. One seat fell vacant due to the death of former Congress minister Paladugu Venkata Rao. Tuling TD-BJP in AP will grab this seat because it is a bypoll to fill the vacancy to serve the remaining two-year term.

For the other three new seats, TD-BJP will get two and YSRC one, making the elections unanimous.

Former Badvel MLA B. Govinda Reddy’s name has apparently been finalised by the YSRC. TD President and AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will pick the nominees after getting feedback from leaders.

Party leader Nara Lokesh is of the view that the party should not nominate leaders lost the 2014 polls.

It is presumed that Mr Naidu will nominate Mr T.D. Janardhana Rao, former APCOB chairman from Krishna district for the bypoll.

TD 2; YSRC 1

■ 55 MLAs are needed for every MLC candidate to win in the first count.

■ If only three nominations are filed, there will be no polling on June 1. Candidates will be elected unopposed on May 25 after expiry of the

withdrawal time. ■ YSRC with 67 MLAs can bag one seat. The rest belong to TD-BJP, which will get two seats.

■ The bypoll for the lone MLC seat will go to the TD-BJP combine due its majority in the House.