The State election authority, the Chief Electoral Officer, is reportedly in favour of elections to be held in a single phase for both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to limit any scope for cross-voting.
CEO Rajat Kumar is learnt to have made a representation to an officer of the rank of deputy senior election commissioner in this regard, urging him to place the matter of conducting the forthcoming elections in a single phase in the two States. Mr. Kumar explained in a letter addressed to the EC that Telangana had large porous border with A.P. extending over six districts.
Telangana, being a part of the erstwhile united State, had large population of people hailing from A.P. residing here and these people frequently visit their native places in the neighbouring State. Further, Hyderabad being the common capital for the two States for 10 years, a large number of Andhra voters reside in the city.
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“In view of this, it is suggested that the general elections-2019 be conducted in a single phase in both the States in order to prevent any bogus cross-voting, inducement of voters etc,” the communication said.
The communication assumes significance in the light of apprehensions that there were significant number of people who had votes in both the States and there was scope for political parties to transport voters if elections were held in different phases.