If Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has his way, the by-election to Huzurabad assembly constituency would be held within next two months.
The Huzurabad seat has fallen vacant on Saturday with the resignation of sitting MLA and former state health minister Eatala Rajender, who is all set to join the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday. His resignation was accepted within a couple of hours and the vacancy was notified.
Rajender, who was sacked from his cabinet post, already resigned from the TRS last week. Though he wanted to resign from the assembly membership immediately, he did not get a chance to meet Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy personally.
As per the norms, the by-election to any vacant assembly seat should be held within six months, unless there are any other compelling reasons.
It is learnt the TRS leadership is planning to request the Election Commission of India to hold the by-elections within next two months, before the third wave of Coronavirus pandemic erupts in the country.
There are a few vacancies in the different state assemblies in the country which need to be filled up at the earliest. Even West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has to get elected to the assembly during this period. So, the chances of holding a by-poll to Huzurabad, too, around September, are bright.
Apparently, the TRS leadership doesn’t want give much time to Rajender to consolidate his base in Huzurabad. Already, it has roped in trouble-shooter like T Harish Rao to ensure that the TRS cadre in the constituency is not split.
“The moment he decided to join the BJP, his influence on the electorate has come down to a large extent. Many leaders and cadre, who were hitherto behind Eatala, are not happy with his decision and they would remain with the TRS,” a party leader said.
The government has started pumping in money to implement welfare schemes like pensions in Huzurabad in a big way.
“We shall go all out to defeat Eatala. And the sooner it is, the better for the party and the government,” he added.