In what could be seen as a clear indication that the state might be heading for early elections, a special summary revision of electoral rolls was ordered in all 119 constituencies in Telangana on Saturday. Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar said that the process would begin from September 1 itself and would be completed by November 30.
The draft electoral rolls are available on the website of Telangana's Chief Electoral Officer at ceotelangana.nic.in, and people have been asked to cross-check if their name is on the list.
“Being in possession of Electors Photo Identity Card (Epic) is not sufficient to enable you to vote. You must be registered in the electoral roll in the place where you are residing,” the CEO was quoted as saying.
In the last week of August, Chief Advisor to Telangana, Rajiv Sharma, who has been camping in New Delhi, met with Central Election Commissioner Ashok Lavas, to discuss the possibility of conducting early polls.
Around the same time, the state’s Chief Electoral Officer said that they would be prepared for early polls if the Election Commission so wishes to bring forward the dates.
All eyes are now on the crucial state Cabinet meeting followed by a massive public meeting by the ruling TRS in Hyderabad on Sunday.
The rally will be preceded by a meeting of the state Cabinet, which is likely to decide for dissolution of Assembly, seven months ahead of its term.
TRS leaders said Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will take "key decisions" at the Cabinet meeting and announce them at the public meeting.
The Cabinet may pass a resolution to dissolve the Assembly and recommend this to Governor ESL Narasimhan. If the Election Commission agrees, the polls may be held in December along with the elections in three other states --Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
The state Cabinet will meet at 1 pm, while the public meeting is scheduled to begin an hour later.
On Saturday, the Chief Minister announced 35% pay hike for the employees of Electricity Department. Over the last few days, he announced sops for various sections of people, and also transferred IAS and IPS officers, an exercise generally done before an election.
KCR's son and cabinet minister KT Rama Rao said the Chief Minister would take a final decision on early polls. Rama Rao, who is number two in the party and the government, is confident of TRS retaining power whenever the elections are held.
Titled "Pragati Nivedana" (Progress Report), the meeting to be held at Kongara Kalan at Ibrahimpatnam on the city outskirts is expected to attract 25 lakh people.
The massive mobilisation of people is expected to hit the traffic on Outer Ring Road (ORR) as thousands of vehicles will be heading towards the venue from different entry points along ORR. KTR has asked people not attending the meeting to stay indoors.
IANS inputs