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  • Conducting GP polls snowballs into controversy in AP
States » SouthPosted at: Jan 23 2021 7:37PM


Conducting GP polls snowballs into controversy in AP

Vijayawada, Jan 23 (UNI) Conducting elections to the Gram Panchayats in Andhra Pradesh snowballed into a major controversy between the State Election Commission (SEC) and the state government, as the government officials did not attend a video conference convened by the SEC on Saturday.
State Election Commissioner (SEC) Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar issued notification to conduct local body elections this morning, which were to be held in four phases in February.
The SEC convened a video conference this evening for which Chief Secretary of government of AP Aditya Nath Das, DGP Gautam Sawan and Panchayat Raj officials did not attend. Moreover, the District Collectors and other officials did not attend the meeting either in various districts. The SEC is understood to have taken the matter seriously and is going to complain to the Governor.
The SEC waited about 20 minutes in the conference hall but no officials attended the video conference. It is learnt that the SEC has decided to take the non-cooperation of government officials to the notice of the High Court. In fact, the AP government and the SEC have been at loggerheads for the last six months on conducting local elections.
Panchayat Raj Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy alleged that SEC Ramesh Kumar had taken a decision to conduct local polls unanimously without taking the government into confidence. ''Completing Covid-19 vaccination drive is more important than conducting Gram Panchayat elections to the government,'' he made it clear, reminding that the SEC postponed the local body polls a few days before the polling in last March.
Significantly, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy even attributed caste motives to SEC Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar while addressing a press conference in March 2020. Mr Ramesh Kumar is very firm to conduct elections before completion of his tenure as SEC.
At the same time, the government also determined not to conduct local body elections as long as Ramesh Kumar is SEC as both are firm on their stand which led to a controversy in the State now.
Meanwhile, Government employee union leader K Venkatrami Reddy announced that they would not take part in the election process till the Covid-19 vaccination is completed. ''We can not risk our lives by participating in the Gram Panchayat elections,'' he said and also made some objectionable comments. Expressing anger over Venkatarami Reddy's comments, the SEC directed DGP Gautham Sawang to take action against him.
CPI State secretary K Rama Krishna faults the State government for not cooperating with the SEC in holding local body polls. He cited that the High Court in its verdict directed the State government to extend support to the SEC to hold local polls but the government is not cooperating, he slammed. "The government is provoking the government employees union leaders" the CPI leader alleged.
Telugu Desam Party senior leader Devineni Umamaheswara Rao welcomed the issuance of notification for local polls by the SEC. He sought the Central forces deployment to conduct local polls in a peaceful atmosphere.
TDP senior leader and MLC Yenamala Ramakrishnudu termed the non-cooperation of State government as a 'contempt of court' and it is creating obstacles for the panchayat elections in total disregard for the High Court division bench order. The AP government approached the Supreme Court to stop the conducting Gram Panchayat elections and the Apex court is hearing the arguments on January 25.
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Tags: #Conducting GP polls snowballs into controversy in AP
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