Hyderabad: Telangana and Seemandhra MLAs who have no doubts over the imminent bifurcation of the state after statements issued by the Union ministers and AICC leaders, are confused about Assembly elections.
The MLAs, particularly from the ruling Congress and ministers who want to change parties are worried on account of the uncertainty over this issue. Almost all parties are convinced that Parliament will approve the Telangana Bill in February either in regular Vote-on-Account Budget Session or in a special session and the state will be divided by February end.
The election schedule will be announced by last week of February or first week of March, said the Election Commission a few days ago. But whether the state Assembly elections would be held along with Lok Sabha elections or not, is unclear.
Union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha on his recent visit to Hyderabad that the state will be divided by February end and Assembly elections will be postponed by six months.
Azad also said that after the bifurcation, a caretaker government will continue till the next elections. But there is no clarity on whether the same government will continue as caretaker or new governments will be formed in two states. President’s rule could also be imposed in two sates till next elections, according to some. Many Telangana Congress leaders and ministers prefer President’s rule after bifurcation.
After the split, the Centre will take up the process of delimitation of Assembly constituencies in both states. That would take 3 to 4 months. Congress leaders expect Assembly elections to be postponed by six months.
If the same government continues till next elections, Congress MLAs and ministers who want to switch parties may postpone their decision. One minster said, who would want to loose the power if there's a scope to retain it for another six months. So just before the elections they may leave Congress.
The Congress MLAs feel that if the government continues for six months they can develop their constituencies. If they leave, the Congress government will not sanction them funds for development.
Telangana Congress leaders wonder how the same government will continue after state division. There are two options - either form new governments in two states or impose President's rule in two states.
