Vijayawada: Amongst 3,989 contestants for 175 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, 52% of them are graduates.An analysis of the election affidavits from major political players suggests that the number of educated candidates has gone up by 6% compared with 2014.Only 2,180 candidates contested in 2014 assembly polls, 45% less than in 2019. Around TDP 116 candidates and 110 YSRC candidates hold graduation or post-graduation certificates. Remaining candidates have studied up to Class 10 or intermediate.Interestingly, more than 30 candidates contesting this year hold doctorates and a majority of them are fighting the polls as independents.In fact, around 75% of the independent candidates hold qualification of post-graduation or more.Some of the highly educated candidates who hold doctorates include Nimmala Rama Naidu of Palacole constituency (TDP), P Ramachandra Reddy of Punganur (YSRC), P Raghunatha Reddy of Puttaparthi (TDP) and K Chandramouli from Kuppam (YSRC).Around 596 candidates have filed their nominations for 25 Parliament seats in the state. This time, several new candidates from TDP, YSRC and Jana Sena are in the poll race.All the three major parties--TDP, YSRC and Jana Sena-- have fielded a few strong candidates who hold superior administrative qualifications. The recent addition of former joint director of CBI V V Lakshminarayana stands as a case-in-point.YSRC is also fielding a former IAS officer and former MP Varaprasad Rao Velagapalli for Gudur assembly constituency.In 2014, around 1,011 candidates who contested held educational qualification of graduation or above.Out of which, only 119 of them emerged as winners. While more highly qualified candidates stand in the fray this year across the state. Experts still predict that the caste factor will also stand as a major player in deciding the elections.

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