As the election battle in Telangana has begun with the TRS-led government dissolving the Assembly on Thursday, the Election Commission of India on Friday informed that they would be sending a team of ECI officers to Telangana on September 11, to assess the poll preparedness in the state. ECI, through a press release informed that the team would be led by Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha. The team will submit their report after completion of their visit.
After several speculations about early elections, the present caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had dissolved the Assembly and set tone for the elections on Thursday. Besides dissolving the Assembly, he also announced nearly 105 candidates who would be contesting from the TRS party. In the list, most of the sitting MLAs got tickets, while five of them were denied. KCR, who is the president of the TRS, is yet to announce candidates in 14 other constituencies.
After meeting the Governor ESL Narasimhan and giving his letter recommending dissolution, KCR addressed a press meet and appealed to people to vote TRS back to power. Speaking to reporters, he said that the AIMIM would continue to be their ‘friendly’ party, and also rejected speculation of his party allying with the BJP.
KCR has already begun his election campaign, addressing the gathering at Husnabad, Karimnagar district on Friday, where he talked about the uninterrupted power supply provided by his government.
Throwing a challenge to Congress party floor leader K Jana Reddy, KCR said, “Jana Reddy challenged me in the Assembly that if I achieve providing 24-hour uninterrupted power supply, he will join the TRS and campaign for us.” “Jana Reddy, if you have any sincerity, I demand that you do that,” he said.
KCR further talked about the state’s growth under his regime and welfare schemes which he had introduced. Meanwhile, Congress leader DK Aruna on Friday warned KCR and his son KTR to mind their words. KCR had kicked up a storm by calling the Congress president Rahul Gandhi a buffoon, which was condemned by several Congress leaders.