BENGALURU: With the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic wreaking havoc across the state, elections to zilla and taluk panchayats, which are due in May, are likely to be postponed. The state government is mulling writing to the
State Election Commission about this soon.
Rural development and panchayat raj minister KS
Eshwarappa said health experts, opposition parties and officials of the
RDPR department have suggested postponing the elections, fearing further spread of the virus. The government will discuss it at the next cabinet meeting and take a call, he added.
Around 3.5 crore people will take part in ZP and taluk panchayat polls directly or indirectly. “So, holding elections would mean putting all of them at risk. Therefore, once a final decision is taken, we will approach the State Election Commission with a request to postpone the polls,” Eshwarappa said. Asked if there was any other motive in seeking postponement of polls apart from the
Covid scenario, the minister said the government is ready to conduct the exercise anytime.
Eshwarappa said the number of seats in zilla panchayats has been increased by over 100 after the delimitation process and around 600 seats have been reduced in taluk panchayats.