Hyderabad, Feb 18: The ruling Congress party has finalized its candidates for Mahbubnagar, Nagar Kurnool and Kollapur Assembly constituencies where by-elections are scheduled to be held.

District minister D K Aruna, former minister G Chinna Reddy have spoken to Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy at his camp office on the selection of candidates. IT Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah also participated in the discussions.

Talking to the media later, the Congress leaders said that it was tentatively decided to field Vijaya Lakshmi from Mahbubnagar, Damodar Reddy from Nagar Kurnool and Vishnuvardhan Reddy from Kollapur.

It may be recalled that Rajeswara Reddy, who was elected as an Independent from Mahbubnagar has died. As he was an associate member of the Congress, the ruling party is hoping to field his wife in the vacant seat. 

Dr Nagam Janardhan Reddy, who was elected on the TDP ticket, has resigned both to the party and the Assembly seat in protest against his party chief N Chandrababu Naidu’s stand on Telangana. He will be seeking re-election with the Telangana slogan as an Independent from the same seat.

Jupalli Krishna Rao, former minister, who was elected from Kollapur quit the Cabinet, Assembly and Congress on the Telangana issue and joined TRS. He would be seeking re-election as TRS candidate.

By-elections to seven seats along with these three would be held on March 18, as per the notification of the Election Commission. The other seats where by-elections would be held are: Station Ghanapur in Warangal district, Kovur in Nellore district, Adilabad and Kamareddy.

Station Ghanapur MLA Rajaiah had also resigned from the Assembly and Congress party to join the TRS. The other two seats were vacated by TDP MLAs Jogu Ramanna and Gampa Govardhan, who have quit the TDP and joined the TRS on Telangana issue.