EC DEFERS LOCAL POLLS IN T’GANA, ANDHRA AMID COVID-19 SPIKE

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Thursday deferred legislative council polls in nine seats in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana due to the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

The term of three members of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council and six members of the Telangana Legislative Council, elected by their respective MLAS, are expiring on May 31 and June 3, respectively, the EC said in a statement. It said as per electoral law, the seats of retiring members are to be filled before their six-year term ends by holding biennial polls.

“The commission has reviewed the matter today (Thursday) and has decided that due to outbreak of the second wave of COVID-19 in the country, it would not be appropriate to hold biennial election to the legislative councils of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana respectively till the pandemic situation significantly improves and conditions become conducive to hold these biennial elections,” the poll panel said. The Election Commission said it will take a decision in the matter at an “appropriate time in the future” after taking inputs from the states concerned and assessing the pandemic situation from mandated bodies such as the national and state disaster management authorities.