Proving it is ahead of the other parties in selecting its candidates for by polls, the congress leadership in the state has announced three of its seven candidates for the March 18 by polls.

Ms Vijayalakshmi from Mahaboobnagar, Damodar Reddy from Nagarkurnool and Mr Vishnuvardhan Reddy from Kollapur will contest as congress candidates in the by-elections.

Ministers DK Aruna and Ponnala Lakshmaiah announced the names in Hyderabad today after 3-hour long meeting with the Mahaboobnagar district congress leaders. Chief Minister Kirankumar Reddy also participated in the meeting.

Kirankumar said on Friday his party has almost finalized the candidates for the by polls but the party would make a final review of the probable candidates before a final selection is made on Sunday. However, the party announced the names today itself taking everyone by surprise. (JUBS)