Poll schedule by Feb end

New Delhi: The Election Commission is all set to announce the Lok Sabha election schedule by February- end or early March, which can be held in six phases. The indication to this effect, which came from Election Commissioner H S Brahma is bound to put a question-mark over the fate of Telangana Bill, which is yet to be discussed and returned to the Centre by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly.

After the announcement of the election schedule, the UPA government will be in no position to pass the crucial bill. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath has already declared that the session will be convened in the first fortnight of February. Given the tight schedule of Parliament Session, where the government will be passing the Vote-on-Account besides the anti-graft bills, the return of the Telangana Bill within the stipulated time-frame of January 23, set by the President becomes important. Any further extension of time to Andhra Pradesh Assembly will jeopardize the Centre’s time-table on Telangana.

Union Home Minister S K Shinde is on record to say, “As soon as the Telangana Bill comes back to the Centre, we will bring it to Parliament.”The Congress-led UPA government is keen that to pass the Telangana Bill ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and any delay further would mar its poll prospects in the region. It hopes that the Chief Minister will cooperate by not causing any further delay in returning the Bill.

Besides, the Vote-on-Account and the Telangana Bill, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi is pressing for the passing of the six anti-corruption Bills pending in Parliament. Rahul Gandhi has taken the position that the Lokpal legislation itself cannot do much. There are other related Bills, which need to be passed, in order to complete the framework required for an effective fight against corruption.