HYDERABAD: The byelection to Huzurabad assembly constituency is likely to be held only after Dasara, October 15. The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced the bypoll schedule for Odisha and West Bengal, but has not announced dates for conducting byelections in 12 other states, including Telangana, due to reasons such as festivals, Covid-19, floods and local issues.
During the recent videoconference held by ECI with chief secretaries of all states, the Telangana government, while expressing its readiness for the poll, said police deployment and campaigning would be a problem if election was conducted in the mid of September and second week of October as Ganesh festival begins on September 10 and Bathukamma and Dasara Navaratri in the first week of October.
Polls to 7 MLC seats to be delayed
In view of suggestions made by Telangana chief secretary Somesh Kumar and DGP M Mahendar Reddy, the ECI reportedly decided to hold the byelection after Dasara.
With this, Huzurabad election might be held either by October-end or November first week.
The bypoll has been necessitated following the resignation of former minister and TRS leader Eatala Rajender on June 12.
The ECI can hold bypoll for the assembly segment within six months of acceptance of resignation i.e., December 12.
After his resignation, Rajender joined BJP and has been campaigning in the constituency vigorously. The ruling TRS also started its campaign.
Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao held a meeting on Dalit Bandhu scheme in Huzurabad.
With the decision of ECI to hold elections after the festival season, polls to seven MLCs, (six under MLAs quota and one under governor quota) would also be delayed.
The state government had then informed the ECI that the conditions in the state were not conducive for holding elections due to the Covid-19 second wave and 10-day lockdown.
