Local body elections in AP very soon, says Minister

Minister for Stamps and Registration Thota Narasimhulu on Friday said that the State Government is taking all necessary steps to conduct the local body elections very soon.

Speaking to reporters at Kirlumpudi near Rajahmundry, he said the Government is committed to conduct municipal, panchayat and mandal parishad level elections very soon.

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the State Government to conduct elections to urban local bodies and Panchayat Raj institutions on the basis of existing 60.55 per cent quota to Backward Classes, SCs/STs. It passed the order on a petition filed by the AP Government and others challenging the decision of the Andhra Pradesh High Court directing the authorities to hold the polls by fixing 50 per cent reservation for various sections.

The term of urban local bodies ended in September 2010 and that of Panchayat Raj institutions (PRIs) in July 2011. Since then, they have been under the rule of special officers in the absence of elected councils.

Opposition parties in the state have been accusing the Congress Government of dragging its feet over conducting elections.