Andhra Pradesh: First-phase tryst takes parties by surprise

VIJAYAWADA

: Andhra Pradesh has geared up for the crucial assembly and

Lok Sabha

polls with the Election Commission (EC) announcing the schedule on Sunday evening. Nevertheless, the scheduling of Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the first phase (April 11) has come as a surprise and shock to political parties as they expected polls in subsequent phases. This gives little time for political parties to prepare for elections.

The election will be held for 25 Lok Sabha and 175 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, and the nomination process is set to roll on March 18. However, the model code of conduct has come into force on Sunday evening and will remain in force even after the polling on April 11 till the entire process of counting is completed on May 23.

This is the first time that polling is held for 25 LS and 175 assembly seats in bifurcated AP. In the last general elections in 2014, polling was held for 42 Lok Sabha and 294 assembly seats as the state was not formally divided when the polling was held. It was only on June 2 that Telangana state was officially formed and the seats divided between the two Telugu states.

AP is one of the four states where simultaneous polls will be held for state assembly and Parliament. All political parties have almost completed selection of candidates except for some contentious seats. They are now giving finishing touches to the lists.

TDP has finalised about 120 assembly and 18 Lok Sabha seats. YSRC, Congress and Jana Sena have also prepared their preliminary lists and the process is likely to be completed within a week.

Election manifestos are also being readied. The TDP and the YSRC have prepared draft manifesto and final touches are being given before seeking approval of respective party chiefs. This election is also going to witness rolling out of promises of increased monetary benefits to various sections of society.

With only a month left for the polling day, and 16 days (March 26) for submission of nomination papers, parties are racing against time. Hectic political activity was witnessed in offices of all political parties right from Sunday morning as it became known that the EC would announce the schedule by evening.