Owaisi welcomes single-phase polling in Andhra, Telangana

MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday welcomed the Election Commission's decision to have single-phase polling in Telugu states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

He told reporters that it was good decision and would provide a level-playing field to both the states. The Hyderabad MP said this was important in the wake of data breach by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

The Election Commission announced that both the Telugu states will go to polls in a single phase on April 11. In Andhra Pradesh, polling will also be held for Assembly elections.

Owaisi exuded confidence that the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) will win 16 Lok Sabha seats and his Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) one seat to sweep the polls 17-0 in Telangana.

He predicted that YSR Congress Party will win more than 20 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh.

Owaisi said he and his party would campaign for the TRS across Telangana and he would also visit Andhra Pradesh to address public meetings if YSR Congress leader Jaganmohan Reddy requests him to do so.

He was confident that regional parties would form the next government at the Centre.

"This is what the country needs because BJP government with 280 seats failed to live up to the expectations. The regional parties will build a new India by ensuring governance in real-time and by addressing real issues and by bringing peace and stability in Kashmir and northeast," he said.

--IANS

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