AAP predicts hung Assembly in coming Telangana polls
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has predicted a hung Assembly in the coming Telangana polls with no single party getting a majority while promising a "Delhi model" government as its poll plank in the southern state. AAP in-charge of the southern states and Delhi MLA Somnath Bharti claimed that an "unspoken anti-incumbency" prevailed against the K Chandrasekhar Rao government in poll-bound Telangana. Here's more.
Telangana's election is going to be mysterious, says Bharti
"This time, Telangana is going to give you surprising results," Bharti said. "Given the scenario in Telangana, where the BJP has fielded candidates separately and against KCR, and there's an alliance between TDP, TJS, and Congress, the state is possibly going to throw up a hung Assembly," Bharti said. "That is what we foresee. It's going to be a mysterious...election," he said.
Telangana Assembly was dissolved on September 6
Bharti claimed that there was huge anti-incumbency against KCR. "People may not be speaking, but the ballot box will speak. We are waiting for the people to think about the new polity in Telangana," he said. Bharti had earlier said the AAP would contest all the 119 seats in Telangana. The Telangana Assembly was dissolved on September 6.
Election Commission announced election schedule for five states
The Election Commission (EC) yesterday announced the election schedule for five states, including Telangana, which will go to the polls on December 7. Counting of votes for all these states will be taken up on December 11. The Telangana polls were originally scheduled to be held simultaneously with Lok Sabha election next year. However, the Assembly was dissolved prematurely last month.
Bharti claimed AAP had proven model of governance in Delhi
Bharti claimed that they had a proven model of governance in Delhi, where the education standards in government schools had surpassed that of the private schools and there was a world-class healthcare system. "(Former UN Secretary-General) Kofi Annan appreciated our model and experiments. If Delhi can get it (better facilities), why not Telangana? That is going to be our plank," he said.
AAP to announce first set of candidates by October 15
AAP Telangana Observer Priyanka Kakkar said screening of candidates for the polls was on and the party expected to announce the first set of candidates by October 15. According to Kakkar, the screening process included filling up of application forms, followed by an interview.
AAP had garnered 0.18% votes in last Telangana Assembly election
"Whoever wants to contest from our party will have to get the signatures of at least 1,000 voters in that particular constituency. We have adopted this exercise for Telangana because we see loyalty as a big question in political parties," Kakkar said. The AAP had garnered 0.18% votes in the last Telangana Assembly election in 2014, the party's State Convenor, Ramu Goud, said.
