The Election Commission of India has postponed the biennial elections to the legislative councils of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana due to the raging COVID-19 pandemic. The EC stated that the term of workplace of 3 members of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council and six members of Telangana Legislative Council elected by the members of respective Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) are expiring on May 31, 2021 and June 3, 2021 respectively.
“As per the provisions of Section 16 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the seats of State Legislative Council which are going to be vacant on the expiration of the term of the members, are required to be filled up by holding biennial elections before the said expiration of the term,” it stated in a statement.
Notably, the EC had not rolled out any schedule for the legislative council polls so far. It today stated that the elections will be held only right after the Covid predicament improves substantially. “The Commission has reviewed the matter today and has decided that due to outbreak of the second wave of COVID-19 in the country, it would not be appropriate to hold a 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,” stated the EC.
The poll body stated that it will choose on the matter at an acceptable time in the future right after taking inputs from the concerned states and assessing the pandemic predicament from mandated authorities like NDMA and SDMA.
Notably, the Election Commission has come below heavy fire from opposition parties as nicely as courts for holding panchayat and assembly polls amid the COVID-19 pandemic. While panchayat polls have been held in Uttar Pradesh, 5 states – West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry – voted amongst March 27 and April 29. The outcome of the polls was announced on May 2. The states that went to the polls have all witnessed a spike in the coronavirus circumstances as COVID-19 suggestions have been openly flouted for the duration of campaigning in spite of strict directives from the Election Commission.