Hyderabad: BRS legislators, most of whom were re-nominated for the upcoming Assembly elections, may hit the pause button on their campaigns in the backdrop of reports of a delay in holding in polls in five states including Telangana against the backdrop of the one nation, one election (ONOE) proposal.
Though the legislators were elated over the re-nomination, they were equally worried over the expenditure going up due to the early launch of the poll campaign. Now, with the chances of polls to the Assembly being held in January, along with the Lok Sabha elections, appearing high, the legislators were worried coping with increased financial demands.
However, party president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao seems to have communicated to the party leaders about the Centre actively considering ‘semi-jamili’ polls through the party's most effective communication channels on Friday.
“We had been earlier instructed by the Chief Minister to not leave the constituency after being nominated. Now, some hints were dropped about a delay in polls and best way to ease the pressure of spending in the constituency is to spend more time in the state capital,” a ruling party MLA said.
In many constituencies, the legislators had started making the rounds of villages and meeting people. In some areas they had been organising programmes on special occasions like Teacher’s Day. “We are also pre-occupied with the lottery to select double bedroom house beneficiaries,” one MLA said.
Ruling party leaders were apprehending a surge in their expenditure in view of consecutive festivals starting from Ganesh Chathurthi followed by Dasara, Diwali and Christmas, when many groups seek funds in exchange for support. “The meter has started already,” quipped one city legislator referring to the cadre as well as residents’ welfare associations placing indents for funds to celebrate the Ganesh festival.
Another MLA from the city outskirts is said to have devised new strategies to keep his expenditure under check. “We are spending more time with cadre and trying to address their pending issues that do not involve finances,” said the MLA.
