The results of General elections for Lok Sabha (Lower house of Indian Parliament) and state Assembly for the existing State of Andhra Pradesh which is having 23 districts and a total geographical area of 2,75,068 Square Kilometers, were declared on 16/May/2014. And the elections results in the existing state of Andhra Pradesh party wise are as follows:
- Telugu Desam Party & Bharatiya Janata Party (TDP & BJP combined)- 126
- Youth Sramika Raythu Congress Party (YSRCP)- 70
- Telengana Rastra Samithi (TRS)- 63
- Indian National Congress (INC)- 20
- Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM)- 7
- Communists- 2
- Others- 8
The above results indicated that TDP & BJP combined alliance emerged as largest party in the existing State of Andhra Pradesh followed by YSRCP and TRS parties in second and third places.
And the present state of Andhra Pradesh exists until 1/June/2014. On and from the date of appointed day of 2/June/2014 there shall be formed a new state known as ‘Telengana’ with 10 districts out of 23 districts of combined state of Andhra Pradesh. So, until 2/June/2014 i.e. is for about 16 days the state of Andhra Pradesh exists, and the General elections held right now are for this existing state of Andhra Pradesh.
But now as on today the State of Andhra Pradesh is under the rule of President of India, and is being governed by the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, and as per the instructions of the Congress led UPA government the bifurcation process for division of State of Andhra Pradesh is going on war foot basis by apportioning the assets and liabilities between the two states i.e. for forthcoming ‘Telengana’ state and successor state of ‘Andhra Pradesh’ besides sharing of employees, civil servants, secretariat buildings, state police buildings and all other government organizations/departments/corporation so on and what not, under the executive instructions. While this process is going on from one side, General elections are also held and results were declared on 16/May/2014 prior to division of state formally.
In any healthy Democratic nation which is having Rule of Law as its back bone, the Governor of that state will invite the largest party, that has won majority seats, to form Government and if any short fall is found to required majority for formation of government to such party, then Governor will ask such party to prove its majority in the Assembly after forming the Government. This is the normal process in any healthy Democratic nation.
Where as in the existing state of Andhra Pradesh certain controversial questions are arising after general election results are declared for state Assembly, such as.
- Is there any necessity for continuation of Executive Rule in the State of Andhra Pradesh after General elections results are declared for State Assembly and for the Lower House of Parliament constituencies?
- Why not any political party that has won the large number of seats in the 23 districts State of Andhra Pradesh for the State Assembly, come forward and ask the Governor of the State for formation of Government, for a period of 16 days, until the 2nd June Appointed day meant for formation of new State of ‘Telengana’?
- In a normal democratic process any Governor of the State invites the political party that has won largest number of seats for the State Assembly, to form a Government in the State, and if there is President Rule in such state, the President of the nation may direct the existing union cabinet to take necessary steps for placing of democratically elected government in such state, to fill up the political vacuum, if once elections are held and results are declared.
- However, even after conduction of elections and declaration of results, could it be considered as healthy Democratic practice to keep the state under Executive control, as per the procedure established under the people’s representation and other legislative laws?
- If once political history of the country since independence is referred, at any point of time had there been executive rule in the State for a long period of 15 days, even after the election results are declared, without inviting the democratically elected political party to form government in such state?
- Another question is, the General elections for the existing State of Andhra Pradesh are held in the 23 district Andhra Pradesh state and results are also declared on 16/May/2014 – but are they legally valid after 1/June/2014 for the 10 districts state of ‘Telengana’ and 13 districts successor state of ‘Andhra Pradesh’?
Now in the existing state of Andhra Pradesh the TDP-BJP combined alliance emerged as largest party with 126 Assembly seats and may be invited to form government in the existing state of Andhra Pradesh until 1/June/2014. If the TDP-BJP combined alliance is not interested in forming government the second largest seats gained party i.e. YSRCP may be invited to form government. If YSRCP is also not interested in forming government with 70 seats in its pocket, the third largest TRS party may be invited to form a government for the existing state of Andhra Pradesh until 1/June/2014. Or if YSRCP and TRS join hands together they can form government by showing a combined figure of 133 seats. Or if YSRCP and Congress join hands they too can form a government by showing a figure of 90 seats and later can make efforts to prove the majority in the Assembly.
When there are so many options available to place democratically elected government in the State assembly after election results are declared, not taking appropriate measures- does it not amount to unhealthy democratic practice?
Some sections of electronic and print media’s projection as if the elections are held and results declared are for two states is, quite misguiding. Every one must remember that the present 2014 elections for Andhra Pradesh State Assembly and Lok Sabha Constituencies are held for the State of existing state of Andhra Pradesh not for the two states of ‘successor state of Andhra Pradesh’ and the state of ‘Telengana’. By dchaitanya.