Telangana bypolls: Tough challenge for Congress, TDP
Against the backdrop of a strong agitation for separate Statehood, the ruling Congress and the major opposition Telugu Desam Party face a tough challenge in the coming bypolls to 12 assembly seats in Telangana region. The byelection to the 12 seats, which should be held before mid-August as per law, has been necessitated as the sitting MLAs - 10 from TRS and one each from Congress and BJP - quit their posts in support of separate Telangana demand.
The two major parties were in a dilemma over fielding their candidates in the wake of demands from the Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) and other pro-Telangana outfits to unanimously elect those who quit.