Stage set for Palair bypoll tomorrow

All arrangements are in place for the bypoll to Palair Assembly constituency of Khammam district in Telangana to be held tomorrow, authorities said. Thirteen candidates, including nine Independents, are contesting for the seat after Congress MLA from the constituency Ramreddy Venkat Reddy passed away in March this year. The contest is expected to be a triangular one between ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), Congress and CPI(M). TRS has fielded state Roads and Buildings Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao while the opposition Congress has named Venkat Reddy's wife Sucharita Reddy as its candidate. TDP and YSR Congress, who are not contesting the polls, are supporting the deceased MLA' wife. BJP is not contesting either. CPI(M) has fielded P Sudarshan Rao for the seat. The campaign to the by-election got over yesterday. "The district administration has made all necessary arrangements for smooth conduct of the bypolls," Khammam district Collector Dana Kishore told PTI today. As many as 41 flying squads are monitoring activities to ensure enforcement of the model code of conduct, he said. Apart from central paramilitary forces, police personnel from the state have been deployed as part of the security arrangements, he said. There are 243 polling stations in the constituency, and 1,90,351 eligible voters would cast their ballot. The elections would be held from 7 AM to 6 PM and the results would be declared on May 9.