443 candidates, including 170 farmers, in fray for Telangana

Sticking to their guns, over 170 farmers remained in the fray in the Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency from where Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K Kavitha is seeking re-election with withdrawal of nominations coming to an end Thursday.

Election officials said 60 nominations were withdrawn out of the 503 valid nominations.

A total of 443 candidates remained in the fray with Nizamabad topping the list with 185 candidates, they said.

Telangana, with 17 Lok Sabha constituencies, goes to the polls in the first phase on April 11.

The farmers had filed their nominations protesting the alleged failure of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi to ensure minimum support price for turmeric and red jowar (sorghum) produce.

They are also demanding setting up of a turmeric board.

A total of 648 nominations were filed in the State of which 145 were rejected and 503 nominations were found to be in order after scrutiny, a release from Telangana Election Commission said on ...