Date:08/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/08/stories/2006100804480600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

A.P. bypolls can wait, says Election Commission

Special Correspondent

In no hurry to fill Karimnagar, Bobbili seats, says CEC

EC would ensure that the seats were filled up at the appropriate time.

"Officially we are yet to set the ball rolling on holding polls," CEC

VISAKHAPATNAM: Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami on Saturday made it clear that the Election Commission (EC) was not in a hurry to hold by-elections to the Karimnagar and Bobbili Lok Sabha constituenciesin Andhra Pradesh.

This statement might inconvenience Telengana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) president K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who after resigning from Lok Sabha in the Telangana row with the Congress, is flexing his muscles and is eager to prove his party's strength in the region through the by-poll. The Congress has already challenged KCR that he would be routed this time as he had severed ties with that party and taken up the bogey of Telengana development which would not cut ice with the people.

The Bobbili seat in Vizianagaram district fell vacant following the death of TDP MP Kondapalli Pydithalli Naidu on August 19 this year.

Mr. Gopalswami, talking to The Hindu over phone from Delhi, said there was still time to hold the polls in the two constituencies. According to rules, the seats have to be filled up within six months from the date they fell vacant. As per this, the Bobbili seat has to be filled up by February and the Karimnagar seat by March next year, he said. He reiterated that the EC would ensure that the seats were filled up at the appropriate time.On the reports of recent discussions held by some officials of the State Government with EC on holding the two by-elections, Mr. Gopalaswami said there could have been unofficial talks. "Officially we are yet to set the ball rolling on holding polls," he said.