Congress sees conspiracy in timing of MLC polling dates

Hyderabad: The Congress party on Wednesday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India alleging a major conspiracy behind the schedule for holding elections for three vacant MLC seats from local bodies in Telangana State.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) National Spokesperson Dr. Sravan Dasoju met the full Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi today and submitted a memorandum given by TPCC President Uttam Kumar Reddy on the issue. Speaking to media persons later, Sravan said that all three MLC seats fell vacant in the month of December 2018 due to resignation of sitting members for different reasons. He said that the Election Commission could have conducted the elections in March this year along with the polls held for two teachers and one graduate constituency.

However, for unknown reasons, the election was dragged till now and all of a sudden the schedule was declared in a haphazard manner, he said.

Sravan pointed out that the schedule for three MLC seats of Ranga Reddy, Nalgonda and Warangal Local Authorities' constituencies was declared on the midnight of May 6th and the TRS was so quick to declare the names of its candidates as if the schedule the finalised in TRS Bhavan. He said the timing has raised serious suspicion that the elections might not be held in a free and fair manner. He pointed out that ZPTCs and MPTCs are voters in the Local Authorities Constituencies. However, he said that the process for election of ZPTC and MPTC was still on. While the first phase polling was held on May 6, the second and third phase polling is scheduled on May 10 and May 14 respectively and results will be declared on May 27. Therefore, how is it possible for the Election Commission to conduct polls on May 31 without having the voter list? he asked.

Sravan pointed out that as per Section 9.3 (iii) of rules for Election to the State Legislative Council from Council Constituencies, there must be "At least 10% of total electors or ten electors, whichever is less for candidates set up by recognised party and ten electors in the case of other candidates." Therefore, he said in the absence of a voter list, how a candidate could get required number of proposers. "Is it not a glaring evidence of the manipulative intent behind the sudden announcement of election notification?" questioned Sravan. He asserted that this was a serious flaw committed by Telangana CEO in conducting a free and fair election.

The Congress leader said that when the opposition leaders met Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Rajath Kumar on the issue, the CEO clarified that the old voters' list would be used for the polls. "Will it not be a mockery of democracy if old ZPTCs and MPTCs are allowed to vote on May 31 while the newly elected ZPTCs and MPTCs will be getting their winning certificate on May 27?" he asked while adding that it would apparently be the first election in the country without a proper voter list.

He expressed apprehension that the Telangana CEO has kept the CEC in dark about ongoing ZPTC and MPTC elections in Telangana.

Sravan said that the TRS leadership got negative feedback on the prospects of winning MLC elections. Therefore, just to avoid a repeat of results seen in Graduates and Teachers' constituencies wherein TRS-back candidates lost badly, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao got the election schedule released on May 6 midnight. He said that the Election Commission was apprised of the situation in Telangana State and a request has been made to postpone the elections by at least two weeks. He said that the CEC and other Commissioners have assured to take necessary action in this matter.

The Congress leader informed that a delegation of senior leaders of Congress, TDP, CPI and TJS have already met the CEO seeking extension in poll schedule for two weeks so that the newly elected ZPTCs and MPTCs are added as voters.