Andhra Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwarlal today said the by-elections to 17 assembly constituencies, which fell vacant due to the disqualification of 16 Congress rebels from the Assembly and the acceptance of the resignation of a woman legislator from erstwhile Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), will be held before the six months period. Addressing a press conference here this evening, there is six months time limit as per law and accordingly the Election Commission of India will take a decision to hold the by-polls.
However, he said he had received a report about them and a report was sent to the EC for taking suitable action. The 17 former legislators, who is to contest from YSR Congress Party ticket, had defied the party whips and voted against the state government in the no-trust motion, moved by the TDP, on December 5, 2011. UNI