Despite
much criticism for its decision to organise elections in the midst of a pandemic, the Telangana State Election Commission (SEC) today reiterated that it would go ahead with the upcoming municipal elections in two corporations and five municipalities notwithstanding the recently imposed
night curfew.
The body asked the state's political parties to carry out their election campaigns as per the Covid-19 safety and prevention norms and added that only five people per party should take part in the campaigning efforts.
It also said that all campaigns should conclude before 6:00 pm each day, and imposed a blanket ban on the organisation of public meetings and roadshows in the poll-bound areas.
The SEC issued these orders following the submission of representations from various political parties urging it to postpone the elections. (The Congress had even approached the Telangana High Court regarding the issue and urged it to reschedule the elections by citing the several obstacles posed by the pandemic to campaigning. However, the HC refused to entertain the petition and directed the party to approach the SEC instead.)
The body sought the response of the state government on the issue and wrote a letter to Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar. Responding to the letter, the CS urged the Commission to forge ahead with the elections instead of postponing them.
One wonders how the SEC's announcement will go down with other parties in the state.