Early MLA quota MLC polls likely

HYDERABAD: The Election Commission of India has sought views of the state government on conducting elections for MLC seats under MLA quota.

Six MLC seats under MLA's quota fell vacant on June 3 with the tenure of six TRS MLCs, Gutha Sukender Reddy, Nethi Vidyasagar, Bodakunti Venkateswarlu, Kadiyam Srihari, Mohd Fareeduddin and Akula Lalitha, coming to an end.

Normally, EC conducts elections before the seats fall vacant but it delayed the procedure because of Covid second wave.

The EC's move triggered speculations that the Huzurabad Assembly by-election would be held soon based on the state government's opinion on MLC

polls.

Official sources said the EC sent a letter to Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar on Wednesday seeking the government's view on holding MLC elections. Sources said that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao is in favour of holding elections as Covid cases have come down drastically in the state and there are no lockdown restrictions anywhere.

Moreover, MLC polls will not involve any campaigning or public gatherings because only 119 MLAs are eligible to vote.

In fact, even polling may not be required as the ruling TRS can bag all six seats on the back of the absolute majority it enjoys in the Legislative Assembly.

Opposition parties lack the strength even to field their candidates. Out of 119 MLAs in the House, the TRS has 102 and its friendly party AIMIM has seven. Opposition Congress and BJP have just six and two members, respectively.

With this, TRS MLC candidates will be declared unanimously and as such the state government wants EC to hold the elections at the earliest.