Former Minister, Marri Shashidhar Reddy argued that the Election Commission of India (ECI) cannot ignore the crucial exercise of revision of voters list and conduct elections.
Mr. Reddy, who is also the Telangana Congress Election Committee Chairman, said Supreme Court never said that revision of voters list cannot be ignored to conduct the elections. “The ECI does not have the authority to overlook this aspect of the Constitution and revision of voters list should be given priority as per Article 324 of the Constitution,” he said.
He was reacting to the ECI’s reported statement that elections have to be completed within six months as per Supreme Court’s order and not necessarily at the end of the six month period. Stating that the Election Commission of India should be impartial, he alleged that KCR was trying to influence even the Election Commission to ensure that polls are held as per his wish.
At a separate press conference, former Minister D K Samarasimha Reddy, who rejoined the Congress yesterday, alleged that Governor ESL Narasimhan and Mr. KCR worked in tandem to advance the polls. Or else why was the Governor so prompt in accepting Assembly dissolution proposal and issue the Gazette notification within minutes of KCR meeting the Governor. He demanded President’s Rule in the State for “free and fair elections.”
Mr. Reddy also found fault with the Mr. KCR for dissolving the Assembly while claiming that the state was growing at a rate of 21.9%.
EOM