First Bar Council poll in AP on June 29

Vijayawada: Come June 29, there will be hectic activity throughout the legal fraternity as they are going to face the first election to the Andhra Pradesh Bar Council after bifurcation of the State with 107 advocates vying for 25 Bar Council member posts from across the newly formed State.

In all 27,600 advocates from 143 Bar Associations throughout the State are going to exercise their franchise to choose their next Bar Council which will have the tenure of five years. Though there are 3,000 advocates practising in Vijayawada, only 2,230 advocates are eligible to become voters in the ensuing election.

Though the election would be held on June 29, the counting is likely to begin on July 15 which would take at least 10 to 15 days to complete. Each and every advocate has to give his order of preference for the 25 members from the contesting 107 members.

From Bezawada Bar Association alone 12 advocates are contesting to become the members of the Bar Council. However, the key contenders are Sunkara Rajendra Prasad, Chalasani Ajay Kumar, S Malleswara Rao and Veluri Srinivas Reddy, former president of Bezwada Bar Association Somu Krishnamurthy said. ``There are bright chances for Ajay Kumar and Sunkara Rajendra Prasad to win hands down in view of their past records,” he said.

Ajay Kumar, as the president of the Bar Association, had air-conditioned the Association office premises which no other bar association even in the undivided State enjoyed, an advocate pointed out. ``He had many such feathers in his cap,” he added. Likewise, Rajendra Prasad also had several achievements during his term in the office.

Another winning horse is Muppalla Subba Rao from Rajamahendravaram Bar Association. Three advocates from Visakhapatnam Bar Association and one from Gajuwaka Bar Association are likely to be elected to the Bar Council of AP, sources said. Likewise, two from Guntur and Eluru Bar Associations would surely be elected.