A day after Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao dissolved the state assembly, Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat, said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) will assess the possibility of holding the polls along with Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram.
Speculations were rife that the Telangana assembly elections may be held along with the four poll-bound state elections which are scheduled to be held before the general elections next year. Speaking to the media, CEC Rawat said the Election Commission of India will discuss regarding all the legal and logistical aspects to conduct elections in Telangana.
#WATCH: Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat says, “we’ll assess if Telangana elections can be held with other 4 states. Any astrological predictions (over dates) made by anyone is notwithstanding” pic.twitter.com/f17R4nsvBF
— ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2018
Rawat said that the elections will be held after proper assessment, irrespective of whatever astrological predictions are made over dates by anyone.
At first, Election Commission will take stock of preparation from CEO (Telangana Chief Electoral Officer) & after that it will be decided when to hold the elections. Then an official audit will take place. The Commission will visit after that: CEC OP Rawat on Telangana elections pic.twitter.com/K4LdxY6Ew9
— ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2018
He also cited the 2002 Supreme Court order that said Election Commission should not allow any caretaker government to be in charge for more than six months. The court had also said that the elections to the state assembly in case of dissolution should be conducted on the first occasion. “Keeping in mind these rulings, legal framework and ground realities in Telangana, the commission will decide on the elections there,” Rawat said.
The Election Commission will first take stock of the situation from the state’s chief electoral officer and then decide to hold the elections. “An official audit will then take place following which the commission will pay a visit to the state,” he said.
Telangana, after being separated from Andhra Pradesh, held its first state assembly elections in May 2014 where TRS came to power winning 63 out of 119 seats.
