Hyderabad, Mar 7 (UNI) As many as 31 candidates, including 20 from the ruling Congress and five from the main opposition Telugu Desam Party filed their papers on the last day for filing of nominations for the 31 Legislative Council seats for the elections to be held on March 17.

In all 32 candidates, including two each from the CPI and Telangana Rashtra Samity (TRS), the one from the AIMIM and an independent supported by the TRS rebel MLAs had filed their papers so far, official soruces said.

CPI(M) nominee Ch Seetaramula had already filed his nominations on March 5.

A keen contest is on the cards as the Congress, which was in a position to win 19 seats with its strength in the State Assembly after offering three seats to its allies, fielded 20 nominees, while the TDP, which could win four after extending support to its ally CPI(M), fielded candidtates for five seats.

The TRS banked on support from other parties to see its two nominees through even as the rebel TRS candidate K Gnaneswar, who claimed the support of the BJP, entered the fray giving a tough time for the party.

AICC Secretary P Sudhakar Reddy, former Minister and Pradesh Congress Spokeman P Venkata Rao and Pradesh Congress Vice-President Mohd Jani were among the prominent Congress candidates in the fray.

In all 38 sets of nominations were filed by the candidates.

Tension prevailed in the assembly premises for sometime when the official TRS nominees came along with their supporters in large numbers and raised slogans against each other.

The scrutiny of nominations would be taken up tomorrow and the last date for withdrawal is March 10.

UNI