* Party candidate Mohammed Mahboob Ali polls less than the expected number of votes

The Telangana Rashtra Samiti was hit by cross-voting in the elections to the Legislative Council from the Assembly quota on Thursday as its candidate, Mohammed Mahboob Ali, polled less than the expected number of votes.

The TRS has a strength of 11 members in the House and was pledged the support of two BJP and one TDP MLA, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, for Mr. Ali. However, he polled only 11 first preference votes even as BJP State president and MLA G. Kishan Reddy openly declared that he and his colleague Y. Laxminarayana voted for the TRS.

However, setting at rest all the speculation, the TRS later thanked the BJP and Mr. Pocharam Srinivas Reddy for their support. The party said it would initiate stringent action against members who resorted to cross-voting.

Published Date : Friday, 18/3/2011 3:09 PM IST