YSR widow is Congress nominee for Pulivendula bypoll ?

Hyderabad,Nov 25: Mrs Vijaya Lakshmi,the widow of former chief minister,Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy,appears to be the ultimate choice of the Congress High Command as the party nominee for the Pulivendula Assembly seat for which byelection is scheduled for December 19.The party on Wednesday sent clear indications to this effect to the State unit and the local leadership has already begun discussing the matter.Gandhi Bhavan,the state headquarters of the Congress is agog with activity on Wednesday soon after the name of Mrs Vijaya Lakshmi was sounded for the Pulivendula bypoll.The Pulivendula Assembly segment in Kadapa district was represented by the former chief minister,the late Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

He died in a copter crash in Nallamala forests on September 2 and the Election Commission issued the notification fo r the byelectin on Wednesday.With the notification for the bypoll is now issued, nomination process has already begun.The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO),Mr I V Subba Rao,on Wednesday held a meeting with leaders of all parties on the smooth conduct of the bypoll schedueld for December 19.He warned the political parties leaders of stringent action if anyone is found violating the model code of conduct.The CEO said that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used for the polling in the byelection.On the appeal of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to allow poling agents from outside the district,the CEO said a decision will be taken after thoroughly examining the party’s request.Meanwhile,the TDP on Wednesay said a decision on whether to contest the Pulivendula bypoll will be taken at a party’s politburo meeting to be held on Thursday.

Party senior leader, Mr Byreddy Rajasekhara Reddy,told media persons here that the TDP leadership is eliciting the views of the party seniors on the matter.“A decision wil be taken in the politburo meeting to be held on Thursday aftrenoon,” he explained.