The political activity get momentum in Andhra Pradesh, with the Election Commission today issued a notification for filling up five seats in the Legislative Council that fall vacant on March 29. In all, 21 Council seats will fall vacant between March and May this year as the respective members will retire at the end of their six-year term.

Now, the election will be held on March 9 for three Graduates and two Teachers constituencies in the 58-member Council. The Graduates’ constituencies are Srikakulam-Vizianagaram-Visakhapatnam (SVV), Prakasam-Nellore-Chittoor (PNC) and Kadapa-Anantapuramu-Kurnool (KAK). The Teachers’ constituencies are PNC and KAK.

The ruling TDP has already declared candidates for three of the five constituencies. It has re-nominated sitting MLC B Pullaiah for the KAK Teachers constituency and K J Reddy for Graduates constituency.

For the PNC Graduates constituency, V Pattabhi Rami Reddy will be the TDP nominee while it is yet to decide on the candidate for Teachers constituency here. A stalemate continues over the choice for SVV Graduates constituency as the TDP’s ally BJP is seeking the seat.

The TDP is, however, said to be reluctant to concede the BJP’s demand. Union Minister of State for Earth Sciences Y S Chowdary is holding talks with BJP’s national leaders on the issue.

The opposition YSR Congress is said to be staying away from the contest in SVV. Sitting MLC from KAK Graduates constituency M Geyanand, who has the backing of the Left parties, will seek a re-election. Similarly, the Left-supported Teachers MLC V Balasubrahmanyam will also seek re-election from PNC Teachers constituency.

The TDP currently has 23 members in the AP Legislative Council and the Congress has eight. But, by May, the Congress’ tally will fall to just one seat as seven of its members are set to retire.

The YSRC, which is the only opposition party in the state Assembly, has five members in the Council. It is hopeful to increase its count by three-four seats when elections to the Upper House from Local Authorities and MLAs’ will be held in the second phase.