Swamy Goud may continue as interim Chairman; EC extends enrollment deadline till March 4, to release voters’ list on February 22

Hyderabad: Telangana Legislative Council chairman Swamy Goud’s term is concluding by March end and may continue till June as interim chairman as indications suggest that there wouldn’t be appointment of new chairman during these five months.

Convening Council’s meeting is mandatory to elect its Chairman. Considering the announcement of Look Sabha elections schedule in first week of March, the TRS government is planning hold Budget session in February. Hence, Council meetings may continue from March till June with Goud as interim chairman.

“If Swamy Goud is reelected as MLC, the process of appointing Council chairman will be normal. So the suspense over the new chairman of the council may continue till June,” said a senior MLC.

Goud won as MLC from Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Adilabad and Medak districts graduates’ constituency in 2013. He was appointed as chairman of council on July 2, 2014.

Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Election Officer (CEO) Dr Rajath Kumar said that voters’ list will be released on February 22 for Lok Saha elections, while estimating Rs350-crore expenditure for organizing the general elections in Telangana.

“The Centre will bear the election expenditure and over 2.5 lakh employees will take part in the poll duty. We’re preparing a report on total expenditure. We’re also training our staff to organize the elections in a fool-proof way. We have extended the last date of application for voter enrolment till March 4 and so far we have received more than 16 lakh applications,” said Rajat Kumar.