Vijayawada: The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for by-elections to fill three vacancies in the Rajya Sabha from Andhra Pradesh. These by-elections have become necessary following the resignations of sitting members Beeda Mastan Rao, Mopidevi Venkataramana, and R. Krishnaiah. The ECI released the schedule for the elections on Tuesday.Andhra Pradesh has a total of 175 Assembly seats, of which the NDA alliance holds 164. The YSRCP does not even qualify for opposition status, as it is limited to just 11 seats in the Assembly. A minimum of 25 MLAs is required to secure a single Rajya Sabha seat, leaving the YSRC without a chance to contest. It is almost certain that the NDA alliance will win all three seats in the by-elections. However, a debate is ongoing over whether the Telugu Desam will claim all three seats or share them with its alliance partners, the BJP and Jana Sena.It is worth noting that after losing power, YSRC MPs Mopidevi Venkataramana and Beeda Mastan Rao resigned from their Rajya Sabha seats due to dissatisfaction with the party’s internal affairs. Their resignations were accepted by Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on August 29. Subsequently, both leaders joined the TD, and sources suggest they are hopeful of regaining their Rajya Sabha posts.Similarly, R. Krishnaiah, who was also elected to the Rajya Sabha on a YSRC ticket, resigned from his position. He submitted his resignation to Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on September 23, which was accepted on September 24. Krishnaiah had four years left in his term but stated that his resignation was motivated by the need to overcome obstacles in strengthening the BC movement in Telangana.
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