Uncertainty Over Polls In Telangana Along With Other States

Uncertainty and suspense is looming large over elections being conducted in Telangana along with those in the four states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chattisgarh and Mizoram as the Election Commission of India seems to be undecided in this regard.

Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat indicated in New Delhi that as of now nothing could be said about holding elections in Telangana along with those in the four other states. He also claimed that he had had no conversation with KCR about the dates contrary to what the latter was claiming.

The Central Election Commission is scheduled to meet this evening to discuss when to schedule the elections in Telangana. Even the State Election Commissioner Rajat Kumar has been invited to be present in the capital to participate in the deliberations, but he said that he would not be attending the meeting as he is preoccupied with some important tasks here. However he is likely to go to New Delhi on Monday for talks.

To a pointed question as to when elections in Telangana would be held, Kumar explained that the date could be finalized only after the completion of certain formalities in this regard like the arrival of new EVMs in time, the publication of electoral rolls, the appointment of the required electoral staff and the deployment of law and order forces.

Meanwhile CPI leaders Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy and Narayana called on the CEC in New Delhi and expressed their strong objection to the statement of Telangana caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's statement that elections in Telangana would held along with four other states.

There was also a petition filed in the High Court challenging the dissolution of the Telangana Assembly before its tenure for advancing the polls in the state.