EC chief OP Rawat says predictions on schedule for Telangana election 'unacceptable,' poll body yet to take decision

New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat on Friday said that Assembly elections in Telangana might not be necessarily held along with Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Mizoram. The Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Mizoram are scheduled to take place this year-end, dates for which are yet to be announced. Rawat said that Telangana chief electoral officer (CEO) Rajat Kumar has been asked to file a report on the current situation of the state, based on which the Election Commission of India (EC) would take further decisions. “We have to assess the matter that whether the election could be conducted along with other four states or not. Any astrological predictions (over dates) made by anyone is not withstanding," he added. [caption id=“attachment_4962511” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat. PTI[/caption] Earlier on Thursday, the Telangana Assembly was dissolved by Governor ESL Narasimhan following the recommendation from K Chandrashekhar Rao-led cabinet. However, the governor asked Rao to continue as caretaker chief minister until the new government is formed. “In the law, there is no provision of such cases. But, in 2002, in a special reference, the Supreme Court said that whenever a House is dissolved, the Election Commission should conduct the election on the first occasion so that the caretaker government does not reap unnecessary benefits,” Rawat said. Telangana chief minister on Thursday had claimed that Assembly election in the state might be held in November and the results can be expected in December. Expressing unhappiness over such statements , Rawat said: “In a section of media, an outgoing constitutional dignitary predicted the schedule of elections. It is not acceptable to the commission.” He added that first official audit will take place first followed by the visit of the commission to the state before any decision is taken on the dates. The EC, after Friday’s meeting, decided to send a team of officers under Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha, to Hyderabad on 11 September. The team will assess the situation in the state for its poll preparedness and will submit the report to the commission after concluding the visit. When asked about the constraints in holding multiple elections together and the availability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs), Rawat said the poll panel has resources to go to polls in all the four states simultaneously. “The only visible constraint is that the malfunctions reported in VVPATs were high in number. The VVPATs supply will be completed on 30 November. So, given the number of VVPATs that we have got and the number of polls due, there is no problem. But if the number of the states going to polls increases, then there can be a problem,” he added. He further said that the EC will highlight resource constraints as and when they arise.