40 per cent Lok Sabha candidates in Telangana not graduates

Hyderabad: While there are many intellectuals and highly educated people contesting in these elections, quite a few under-graduates and illiterates are also in the fray.

As much as 40 per cent of the total number of candidates in the fray for Parliamentary elections in Telangana do not have a graduate degree while about 15 per cent never passed Class X. While most of them are Independents, there are some established names and prominent party candidates as well.

Telugu Desam candidates, sitting MPs Ramesh Rathod and Nama Nageswara Rao, are not graduates and have studied only till Class XII. Nalgonda Congress sitting MP G. Sukhender Reddy too has only studied till Class XII.

According to an analysis of 265 candidates in the fray for Parliamentary elections in Telangana, by the Association for Democratic Reforms and the Andhra Pradesh Election Watch, 56 contestants are post graduates while 14 are doctorates. Most are graduates and graduate professionals.

Mr Rathod from Adilabad and Mr Nageswara Rao from Khammam have not studied past Class XII. Congress sitting MP from Nalgonda G. Sukhender Reddy has also studied only till Class XII. Telugu Desam Malkajgiri candidate Ch. Malla Reddy has studied till Class XII, though he runs many educational institutions.

Four candidates fielded by the YSR Congress in Telangana also have not studied past Class XII. Meanwhile, YSRC candidate from Karimnagar Meesala Raji Reddy has only studied till Class V.