EC could consider scheduling T'gana polls with other states, says ex-CEC

Hyderabad: There is a reasonable possibility of the EC considering scheduling Telangana Assembly elections along with the four States where polls are due later this year in case the House is dissolved, former Chief Election Commissioner T S Krishnamurthy said on Wednesday.

There is heightened speculation in political circles that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is all set to recommend dissolution of the House, with an aim to club the state elections with that of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram, due in November-December.

A meeting of thestate Cabinet has been convened for tomorrow where it may consider adopting a resolution recommending dissolution of the House. "Yes, that's what is happening. (CM may consider recommending dissolution of the Assembly)," a senior leader of the ruling TRS said.

Assembly elections are originally scheduled to be held along with the Lok Sabha polls in April-May next year, but the chief minister is keen on "uncoupling' the two polls, seeing it as an advantage for the ruling TRS.

"If the Assembly is dissolved by the chief minister, the Election Commission will certainly consider bunching along with Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram.

Generally, the idea is to bunch them. If it's dissolved, the EC will certainly consider bunching them," Krishnamurthy told PTI.

"If they (Telangana government) dissolve it (the Assembly) round about the time (before the EC announces poll schedule for the four states) they are going to bunch it," he said. But if it's one or two days before the announcement, it may be difficult for them (EC) but they will consider, the former CEC said.

Generally, the intention is to bunch as far as possible, it's easy for them, he added.