Hyderabad, August 03: The bypoll setback has pushed the ruling Congress into second thoughts over holding elections to the municipalities and corporations in the state.
Though the government has been stating that the process has commenced and the elections would be held in December, the talk in the corridors of power is that they will not be held in the near future.
As per schedule, the government has to conduct elections to municipalities and corporations by the end of September and new bodies have to take charge immediately.
For that to be possible, the government has to request the state election commission to initiate the process in this month itself. However, so far the government has not sent any requisition to the election commission nor does it appear to be in a mood to do so.
Reportedly, the SEC has asked the urban local bodies to be prepared for elections. It told them to prepare wardwise voters’ lists and finalise reservation of wards.
The municipal administration department, however, has replied that it is not possible to complete the process, as requested by the SEC, by the end of September. Obviously, this means the elections will not be held as per schedule.
However, senior Congress leaders attribute the reluctance to hold polls to political reasons than technical.
Reeling under the bypoll debacle, the Congress fears a rout in Telangana in the civic polls too and is not sure of its prospects in Andhra and Rayalaseema either, a senior Congress leader felt.
“Even in December, there is the prospect of Srikrishna report coming out leading to another round of commotion in the state. Under these circumstances, the government has to wait till the dust settles down and the ruling party comes to grips with the situation,” he said.
Another leader said the party needed a charismatic leader to steer it to victory in the municipal elections.
Many Congress leaders are of the opinion that the government should administer the civic bodies with special officers till things start looking up for the ruling party once again.
–Agencies