The by-elections to three MLC seats in Telangana under local bodies’ quota are being held without the voters list, according to the allegation of the Congress party.
Congress spokesman Sravan Dasoju, who submitted a memorandum to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi on Wednesday said all three MLC seats fell vacant in the month of December 2018 due to resignation of sitting members – P Narender Reddy from Ranga Reddy, Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy from Nalgonda and Konda Murali from Warangal for different reasons.
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 on May 6 midnight, he said.
Sravan pointed out that within hours of announcing the schedule, the TRS was so quick to declare the names of its candidates as if the schedule the finalised in TRS Bhavan.
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? In the absence of a voter list, how a candidate could get required number of proposers,” he said.
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.