Congress readies for Graduate MLC polls amid BRS-BJP challenge

In the Indian state of Telangana, there are special elections where only college graduates get to vote.

These elections choose members of the state's legislative council, called MLCs.

There are two seats to be filled, one covering Nalgonda, Khammam, and Warangal, and another covering Hyderabad, Rangareddy, and Mahabubnagar.

The Congress party, which runs the state, has started working hard to win both seats.

Congress thinks the BRS party is its biggest rival for one seat and the BJP for the other.

Congress leaders believe BRS and BJP might team up to beat them.

Some Congress members say the two parties will secretly help each other's candidates.

One current MLC from BRS reportedly does not want to run again, and another MLC quit Congress to start a new party.

The elections are still months away, but the parties started talking to graduate voters in August.

They see these elections as an important practice round before the big state elections.