Hyderabad: The TRS and Congress got into a slanging match over the former’s decision to field five candidates in the MLC elections from MLA quota here on Thursday.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged TRS would indulge in horse trading to win the fifth seat. Seven candidates are in the fray for six seats.

“The TRS decision to field a 5th candidate from MLA quota was shameless. It is corrupt politics. TRS can win 4 seats. TRS will now buy MLAs and indulge in horse trading. We will move the Supreme Court to ensure open voting like in Rajya Sabha,” Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy said after his party nominees filed papers.

The Congress and TD are on high alert ancipating poaching by the TRS. The Congress demanded an open ballot to prevent cross voting.

Appealing to all the party leaders to cooperate and back Akula Lalitha nominated by the Congress High Command, the TPCC president said the Congress decided to field Lalitha since no women from BC community got an MLC ticket.

Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy requested all MLAs to support the official nominee, but he could not reach Komatreddy Venkat Reddy, who did not turn up when the party nominee Lalitha filed her papers.

The Congress high command has asked party leaders to rope in all legislators and leaders. Senior Congress leader K. Jana Reddy also predicted cross voting if the TRS doesn’t withdraw the 5th candidate from fray. When a reporter asked why he could not convince Mr Chandrasekhar Rao to withdraw, he said, “We are good friends. We also have good friends in other parties too. But when it comes to elections, the choice is left the parties,” he remarked.

Mr Jana Reddy met Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to request him to ensure unanimous election of all the six candidates and not to field seventh candidate by TRS. However, his mission failed.

Ms Akula Lalitha thanked  AICC president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Digvijay Singh, Uttam Kumar Reddy and other state leader for her nomination.

However, Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari brushed aside Congress allegations. “We don’t have to indulge in horse trading. Many MLAs were attracted to Mr Chandrasekhar Rao’s developmental and welfare programmes during the last one year and joined TRS. We will win 5 seats,” he said.

BJP Floor leader Dr K. Laxman said it would have been good if all the six candidates were elected unanimously and the TRS should not have field the 5th candidate.

“It’s a new state and there should have been a new culture of unanimity. BJP will support Telugu Desam candidate Vem Narender Reddy. We will win,” he added.