Election Commission to announce Telangana poll dates in mid-October
Telangana Assembly elections are most likely to be held prior to the state polls for four other states.
Hyderabad: The Telangana Assembly elections are most likely to be held prior to the state polls for four other states. The EC is in favour of issuing the schedule for Telangana Assembly elections in October second week and holding elections in November last week.
This is to ensure adequate number of Electronic Voting Machines, voter-verified paper audit trails (VVPATs) and security forces are in place for smooth conduct of the elections in TS which would be difficult if five states elections are clubbed together.
The EC on Saturday issued orders stopping revision of photo electoral rolls in Telagnana with cut-off date of January 1, 2019 and to go ahead with draft rolls of January 1, 2018, to pave the way for early polls in Telangana.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, Mr Rajat Kumar said, “The two-day tour of the EC team to Telangana to assess the arrangements for elections will begin on September 11. The team will meet representatives of all political parties and election officials on Day-1 and district collectors, SPs, Chief Secretary and DGP on Day-2. The team will gather all the details and submit a report to the Election Commission of India, which will take a call on the schedule for the Telangana Assembly polls.”
He said that the supply of EVMs and VVPATs to the state will begin from Monday and training for polling staff will begin soon. Mr Rajat Kumar said the EC has already initiated the election process in Telangana and it will be speeded up in the coming days. He directed collectors and SPs to fill returning officers and assistant returning officers posts immediately.
Instructions were also given to transfer the staff working in native districts and also those who have completed three years of service in the same location.
Official sources said the EC has been citing Supreme Court orders to give priority for holding elections in states where the term of Assemblies has ended and in this backdrop the EC wants to hold elections to the TS Assembly first, before the other four states.