Talk: Election Schedule to be released on Feb 10?

The general elections would be held ahead of the March-April schedule.

According to sources, the notification for the general elections would be released on Feb. 10 next year. The central election commission, it is learnt, had even passed on the same information to the state election commissioner. Accordingly, higher officials of the central election commission would tour in Andhra Pradesh for three days and hold meetings with the district collectors and SPs.

During the meetings, the officials are likely to deliberate on the sensitive constituencies, faction constituencies and the measures to be taken up to ensure smooth polling, like the necessary security forces and reserve forces to be deployed in these places.

The EC officials are also likely to inspect the polling centres which should be readied for the polling, at random.

Recently, Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy too said that Assembly elections would be held 20 days before the schedule. In tune with that announcement, he had been working on selecting the candidates from among his party leaders. The shifting of party in-charges and MLAs from constituencies, which is underway, could be a part of the same process. Whatever the reason, the overhaul in the YCP is going on at a rapid pace.

Even Opposition leader and TDP boss N. Chandrababu Naidu is not lagging behind. It is learnt that he had already decided about the party candidates to be fielded in the fray. At the same time, there is information that he has also come to a final decision about the number of seats that would be left for the Jana Sena party, as part of the alliance partnership.

The only thing remaining is a public announcement by Naidu. Once that comes out, the leaders and cadre of both parties can together take up campaigning and influence the voters.