HYDERABAD: Even as speculations are rife of Centre considering a proposal to hold simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and State Assemblies in coming November/December, Telangana appears to be preparing for an electoral battle much earlier than that.
Exactly a week after his Delhi tour, when he had an hour-long meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao announced on Sunday that he was contemplating making a request to the Election Commission to hold early polls to Assembly.
He also threw a challenge at the Congress Party, asking them if they were ready to face a snap poll. “As we have entered the election year, Congress leaders are undertaking a malicious campaign against the State government. They are creating hurdles for State’s development. Hence, people are asking me to go for early polls to teach a fitting lesson to the opposition, particularly, the Congress. Now, I am thinking of requesting EC to hold early polls in the State,” he said on Sunday.
Addressing a gathering after inducting Congress leader Danam Nagender into the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), KCR claimed that all surveys conducted in the State so far have clearly stated that the TRS would win more than 100 seats in the 119-member State Assembly in the upcoming polls.
“In at least 80 Assembly seats, TRS will get huge margins. I will disclose the survey reports in a three days time, by holding a press meet,” he informed. He said the pink party will retain power in the next polls, even if all opposition parties in the State join hands with each other and try to defeat them.
“Opposition parties in the State are in a terrible condition. Because of lack of strong opposition in the State, our party leaders are becoming inactive,” he quipped. According to sources, ongoing internal squabbles among main opposition Congress leaders have made Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao consider the idea of early polls.
As there is no acceptable face in the Congress for all its leaders at present, K Chandrasekhar Rao is of the view that early polls might put the main opposition in a fix.
Flashback
Early polls are not a new concept for the Telugu States. But, whenever early polls are held, the ruling party has lost.
1983: Cong govt went to polls 3 months in advance to counter NTR wave, but lost
1989: NTR too opted for early polls, but he was voted out of power
2003: Chandrababu Naidu went for early polls and lost power
What will be the impact?
The first sitting of the present Assembly was held on June 8, 2014. That means, the term of the present Assembly will be valid up to June 7, 2019
As per the Election Act, the EC can hold elections six months prior to the scheduled date. That means, the EC can hold polls after Jan 7, 2019. If at all the elections are to be conducted much prior to that, the present House is to be dissolved. The State Cabinet will have to recommend to the Governor in this regard
We are ready: Cong
Interestingly, Congress leader Komatireddy Venkat Reddy said his party was ready to face early polls. “I will write to Rahul Gandhi requesting him to make an announcement in this regard. I challenge KCR to dissolve the Assembly to pave the way polls,” he said