Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Wednesday ruled out early elections to the state assembly and parliament. Setting aside speculation that the Congress could go for early polls, the chief minister told top civil officials that the elections would be held as per the schedule next year.

"Don't believe in stories published in newspapers that elections will be held today or tomorrow. Elections shall not come before March, both to the assembly and parliament," he told district collectors here.

Inaugurating the meet, the chief minister asked the collectors of all 23 districts to effectively implement welfare programmes by September this year.

He claimed that the ruling party could register victories in recent by-elections due to the welfare and development schemes of the government.

"There is no anti-incumbency. The opposition parties are worried and they are discussing alliances for the coming elections. It only shows the goodwill the government has among general public," he said.

The chief minister announced that students belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, backward classes and minorities need not pay fees for medical, engineering and other professional courses. The government would pay the fees to the educational institutions.

He announced that the fifth phase of land distribution would be launched Aug 15. He said 150,000 acres would be distributed among the poor under the phase and asked collectors to distribute 70,000 acres by October.