Hyderabad:
Political parties in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday welcomed the schedule announced by the Election Commission of India for by-elections to one Lok Sabha and 18 assembly constituencies.
The ruling Congress party said that it was prepared to face the by-elections. State cabinet minister Basvaraj Saraiah said he was confident that his party would win all the seats including Prakala assembly seat in Telangana region.
The main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) also hailed the poll schedule. N Rajakumari was confident that the party would bag all the seats.
YSR Congress party also said it was sure of sweeping the by-elections.
"Keeping up the tradition of maintaining a full electoral college before the presidential poll, Election Commission has announced the schedule and we welcome the June 12 by-polls. It goes without saying that YSRC will sweep the elections," party spokesperson Ambati Rambabu said in a statement.
The Election Commission has announced the by-elections to Nellore Lok Sabha and 18 assembly seats would be held on June 12. Counting of votes will be take place on June 15.
Nellore Lok Sabha seat fell vacant due to resignation of Congress leader Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy, who switched loyalties to YSR Congress party leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy.
The by-polls to 16 assembly seats are necessitated by disqualification of Congress rebels loyal to Jaganmohan Reddy. They had all voted against the government during the no-confidence motion in the Andhra Pradesh assembly in December last year.
One seat was vacated by another Jagan loyalist Shoba Nagi Reddy of Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), which has now merged with the Congress party.
Tirupati assembly seat will also go to polls as actor-turned-politician K Chiranjeevi has resigned following his election to the Rajya Sabha.