Till the other day, there were reports that the Election Commission might anytime announce the schedule for the conduct of by-elections to Huzurabad assembly seat, which has fallen vacant due to resignation of sitting MLA and former minister Eatala Rajender.
These reports said the BJP was lobbying for early elections in Huzurabad to take advantage of the sympathy for Rajender among the voters and if more time is given, the TRS might get the mileage by distributing Rs 10 lakh each to the Dalit families under Dalit Bandhu scheme, besides taking up various developmental activities in Huzurabad.
It was because of the reports that Election Commission might come out with a surprising announcement of schedule for Huzurabad by-elections, TRS president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao launched Dalit Bandhu scheme hurriedly in Vasalamarri village.
At the same time, KCR also worked out another strategy to get the elections to Huzurabad postponed.
He is said to be planning to submit a report to the Election Commission stating that the Covid-19 situation in Karimnagar was alarming and not congenial for conducting the elections.
A couple of days ago, Telangana state medical and health director G Srinivasa Rao particularly visited Karimnagar district to oversee the Covid-19 situation.
He told the reporters later that the number of cases in Karimnagar have been on the rise in the recent past, along with six other districts.
“The main reason for this increasing number of cases is increasing political activity. If the leaders and the people do not take adequate precautions, there is every possibility of a third wave affecting the state,” he warned.
Sources said the TRS government is taking this increase in Covid-19 cases as an excuse to get the elections postponed.
“But it all depends on the EC’s decision. It might also send its own team to assess situation at the ground. If it is also convinced that the Covid-19 situation is not congenial, it might postpone the by-polls in Huzurabad,” sources said.