Notwithstanding the strong resistance from the YSR Congress party government in Andhra Pradesh led by chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, state election commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar is firm on holding elections to the urban and rural local bodies in the state.
Within a couple of hours of Telangana state election commissioner C Parthasarathy announcing the schedule for Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Nimmagadda held a press conference and declared that the SEC would hold elections to the local bodies in AP in February.
He said there are no legal hurdles for the conduct of elections to the local bodies in the state and a decision was taken to hold the elections in February after consulting all the political parties.
“The intensity of Covid-19 has come down in the state, thanks to the effective measures taken by the state government. The number of positive cases has come down from 10,000 a day to around 700 a day. So, no worry. I am in constant touch with the medical and health department authorities,” Nimmagadda said.
Stating that elections were being held in various other states without any issue, the SEC said even in Telangana, the government was holding elections to the GHMC.
“Holding elections is a constitutional necessity. It is also needed to seek central funds for the development of panchayat raj bodies,” he said.
Ramesh Kumar said at present, the model code of conduct was not in force in the state and the government could continue its developmental and welfare activities.
“The code will come into force four weeks before the scheduled date of elections,” he said.
