As predicted by one and all, the election process of Local-Bodies has come to a halt again with High Court issuing a stay order on Wednesday.
Just, 3 days back the same court has given green signal to conduct the elections, refusing to issue a stay order as requested by Ram Mohan Reddy, the representative of AP Sarpanch’s Association. When, the State Election Commission is gearing up to announce the election notification with in five days, the court stay order comes as a jolt.
Although, the Congress party doesn’t want to face the elections in the present circumstances, it keep telling the people media that, it is very sincerely trying its best to conduct the elections for Local-Bodies at the earliest.
But, the Congress party seems to be made a strategic move by filing a private petition through an unknown person Venkat Reddy from Mehabub Nagar. The petitioner asked the court to order the Government to stop the GO No:128, which provides 60.5% reservations to different sections of society in the Local-Bodies elections, which is against the constitution. The High Court has stayed the election process. Hence, State Government had a sigh of relief with the latest court order. State Election Commission is planning to approach the Supreme Court on this matter.
Local bodies polls before assembly by-elections: Minister
2012/4/12 5:58:11 Municipal Administration Minister M Mahidhar Reddy on Thursday announced that the State Government was likely to conduct elections to local bodies before the by-elections to 18 Assembly segments in the State.
Talking to media persons after participating in a slew of development programmes in the East Godavari district, the Minister said that the government has to conduct elections to local bodies within 45 days after the completion of census work in the state. He hoped that the elections to local bodies would be announced before the next by-elections.
Stating that the government allotted Rs 2 crore for Nagara Panchayats development, he said that Rajahmundry would be given top priority in the second phase of implementation of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. He also warned that State Government would 10 to 20 per cent fine annually against those who fail to utilize the Building Regularisation Scheme/Building Penalisation scheme in the towns. (INN)
2011/12/16 7:49:54 The elections for the local bodies including municipalities and municipal corporations would be held by March 31.
This was announced by Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister M Maheedhar Reddy while talking to reporters on the sidelines of two-days Collectors Conference at Jubilee Hall here on Thursday. He said that the government has decided to conduct the elections for all local bodies by March 31. However, he said that the government was not ready to conduct simultaneous elections for newly formed municipalities with the existing ones due to some technical reasons.
The Minister said that the government would make a detailed announcement in this regard in the next three to four days after convening a meeting with the officials concerned. (INN)
2011/6/14 3:47:24 The State Election Commission on Tuesday said that the elections to Local Bodies will be held by the second week of July after the Andhra Pradesh High Court gave it the green signal to go ahead with the poll process.
The elections would be held as per the existing reservations (50 per cent) and the polling would be conducted through ballot papers, state Chief Election Commissioner Ramakanth Reddy told media persons.
Earlier, delivering its verdict on the validity of the state government’s decision to provide 60.5 per cent reservations to the weaker sections in the ensuing elections to Panchayats and other Local Bodies, Justice G Rohini said that the Courts would not interfere in the question of quotas at this stage.
Justice Rohini also quashed the petition filed by State Sarpanchs Association, which challenged the state government’s decision to provide 60.5 reservations to weaker sections in ensuing Local Body elections.
Rejecting the appeal of State Sarpanchs Association to order a status quo on the elections, the Court directed the State Election Commission to issue a notification for conducting of elections and begin the process for elections.
The Sarpanchs Association had contended that the action of the government goes against the directive of the Supreme Court that made it mandatory for the states to ensure that the total percentage of reservations does not cross 50 per cent of the total seats.
The term of the present elected bodies, MPPs and ZPPs would expire on July 21 and 22 respectively and that of Gram Panchayats on August 23.
The term of the special officers for 85 out of 108 municipalities and 10 out of 16 municipal corporations would end on September 29.
V V Prabhakar rao, who argued on behalf of EC said the conduct of elections to the local bodies was mandatory before the expiry of the term of the present bodies as per Articles 243 (E) and (U) of the Constitution dealing with this matter.
Hailing the judgment, State Election Commissioner Ramakanth Reddy stated the verdict has paved the way for the SEC to go ahead with the elections to Local Bodies.
Mr Ramakanth Reddy said that the SEC would issue a notification in this regard after receiving a copy of the Court’s ruling.(INN)
2012/1/27 14:47:26 Municipal Administration & Urban Development Minister M Mahidhar Reddy on Friday reiterated that the government was committed to conduct elections for the local bodies by May-end.
Talking to media persons after emerging out of meeting with Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy at the State Secretariat, Mahidhar Reddy said that except six to seven municipalities, the government was ready to conduct elections for all other municipalities by May-end.
Stating that the Election Commission would conduct elections based on the Census of 2001, he admitted that the issue was delayed due to the issue of reservation for BCs in the newly-formed municipalities.
Local bodies polls likely to be postponed: Mahidhar Reddy
2011/7/19 10:17:01 Elections to the local bodies are likely to be postponed In the light of current volatile situation in the state.
This was indicated by the Municipal Administration Minister M Mahidhar Reddy here on Tuesday.
The Minister, who had a meeting with Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy at his camp office revealed that though no decision has been taken for now on the issue of local body elections, indications were given that postponement of polls was on the cards.
In the absence of polls to the Panchayati Raj institutions the term of special officers will be extended by another six months.
The current term of special officers would end in September 2011.
The government is contemplating to extend their term by another six months to avoid any crisis.
The Chief Minister is also understood to have hinted that he would discuss the issue again shortly.(INN)
2011/6/15 9:10:27 Following an appeal made by the A P Sarpanches’ Association over the issue of contentious reservations in the ZPPs and MPPs, a Division Bench of the High Court has granted a ‘stay’ not to conduct the Local Body Elections. The stay was given over the quota system as detailed to the Court by the state government.
The Court also directed that the GO which stipulated the reservation system for the said ZPPs and MPPs be stalled.
With this, the much awaited elections to the Local Bodies have been put under wraps once again by the Ap Sarpanches Association who contended that the cited quota for candidates drawn from weaker sections exceeded the ceiling quota – 50 per cent – as fixed by the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, State Election Commissioner Ramakanth Reddy, who was approached by the media men at the Secretariat on Wednesday stated that the government announced quota details which was furnished to the state High Court became invalid.
Mr Ramakanth Reddy made it clear that the controversial elections would be held only after the government sent a revised list of details related to the reservations for the Local Bodies.
Even as the issue has been dragged to the Court by the Sarpanchaes Association, the N Kiran Kumar Reddy government is said to be engrossed in an ‘exercise’ that might save the skin of the ruling party. \
Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana was also here and held deliberations with the Chief Minister on the issue.
What transpired between them remained as a closed door affair.
Sources indicated that the government may opt for an Ordinance for appointment of Special Officers to the Local Body institutions to tide over the crisis for the present. Another section also signaled that the Court verdict came in handy for the N Kiran Kumar Reddy administration to have a free run till September.
The government in a way found a good alibi to turn the blame to the Court or the Sarpanchas Association to conveniently put off the cited polls.(INN)
No impact of dissident MLAs on Congress chances in LB polls: DS
2011/5/31 3:31:25
Pradesh Congress Committee president D Srinivas on Tuesday stated that he does not foresee any impact on the party’s chances in elections to the Local Bodies due to some of the Congress MLAs moving closely with the YSR Congress Party.
“The High Command will take action against these MLAs and by the time the Local Bodies’ elections are held, the picture on the ground will be clear. There will be no confusion among the party cadre and the Congress activists will work to ensure that the party nominees capture the Local Bodies,” Mr Srinivas told media persons at the Gandhi Bhavan.
He also stated that there is no connection between the separate Telangana statehood demand and elections to the Local Bodies and called upon party rank and file to get ready for the forthcoming polls.
Mr Srinivas added that the state government had been trying to increase the percentage of reservations to Backward Classes candidates and this has been the reason for not conducting the elections earlier. “The separate Telangana demand is not the reason behind the delay in conducting the elections to the Local Bodies,” Mr Srinivas stated.
Stating that the notification for the elections to Local Bodies would be issued soon, the PCC president directed the District Congress Committee presidents to gear up for the polls.
Mr Srinivas disclosed that the DCC presidents have been directed to hold consultations with local leaders ascertain the party’s strengths and weaknesses.
Based on the report given by DCCs presidents, the party would recommend steps for strengthening party at ground level, he stated.
“Action against the MLAs moving closely with Mr YS Jaganmohan Reddy would also be taken based on the reports submitted by the DCC president,” the PCC chief stated.
Stating the government is committed to implement 34 percent reservations for Backward Classes in the local body elections, Mr Srinivas said that the party was ready to face whatever legal hurdles come in its way.
Reiterating the Congress was not against formation of Telangana state, he said that the party had already made its stand clear and the Centre will take a decision on it soon after convening of all-party meeting.
“The Telangana issue is got delayed due to some regional problems” he said.
He also made it clear there is no connection between Telangana issue and conducting of local body elections, he stated.
Reacting on reports that Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu would introduce a no Confidence Motion against the government, Mr Srinivas said the Opposition has every right to do so. “We have no objection for utilizing their right. However, the Congress is ready to face no Confidence Motion at any time,” he stated.
Govt likely to bring in Ordinance to postpone Local Bodies’ elections
2011/6/9 9:22:11 The government is said to have approached the Governor for issue of an Ordinance to postpone the Local Body elections in view of certain irritants cropping up in the system, specifically the quota issue of the Backward Classes.
The Apex Court had already limited the ceiling quota to 50 per cent and in the light of this, ruling the government has been placed in a piquant situation.
According to government sources, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy had already written a letter to Governor E S L Narasimhan in this regard.
The cited Ordinance may be issued any time from now, most probably on June 11. Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy has also held discussions with his cabinet colleagues on the contentious issue.
The term of office of the MPTC and ZPTC will come to an end in July (22 and 23) and that of the Sarpanchas in August (August 22 and 23).
But going by the current pace of developments, the preparedness for the elections could at best be described as ‘tardy’ as the Court has already been moved over the issue of quota to the Backward Classes in the said elections.
There is therefore a possibility of postponing the said Local Body elections.
Following a writ petition challenging the action of the authorities in not implementing the categorisation of reservation for Backward Classes in the Local Bodies’ elections, the Advocate General is filing a counter affidavit on Tuesday to explain the stand of the state government.
Meanwhile, the High Court would hear the arguments next week.
The petition was filed by U Sambasiva Rao. Justice Naushad Ali adjourned the case to Tuesday.
2012/1/16 14:21:39 Telangana Rahstra Samithi Siddipet MLA T Harish Rao on Monday asked Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to immediately conduct elections for the local bodies.
Talking to media persons at his residence, he said that people have been facing lot of problems due to the absence of elected bodies. “There is no one to monitor the local bodies after the expiry of term of elected presidents. The Chief Executive officers appointed to look into problems are unable to address the people’s issues,” he said.
Harish Rao also appealed to the State Government to announce a compensation of Rs 10,000 per acre to the drought-hit farmers. Further, he demanded that the government provide subsidy on seeds, fertilizers and farm tools to take up agriculture operations. He appealed to government to supply 1000 additional transformers for the affected district to resolve the power woes.
The TRS leaders also demanded direct selection for the teachers' posts through the District Selection Committees. (INN)
2012/3/22 4:19:23 Telugu Desam Party senior leader K Yerram Naidu on Thursday demanded that the State Government immediately announce the schedule for conducting elections to the local bodies in the State.
Talking to media persons while participating in the dharna being organized under the aegis of Citizens Forum against forcible collection of property tax in front of the municipality, Yerram Naidu alleged that the government was resorting to delaying tactics in conducting the elections and postponing them repeatedly fearing of defeat in the elections.
If the government was really committed to democracy, he said that the government should conduct elections for all panchayats and municipalities in the State.
The TDP leader said that the outcome of by-election results have proved that the Congress party was losing its grip in the State. The people of state have lost confidence on the Congress party due to its total failure on all fronts and for its ministers' involvement in the corrupt practices, he said. (INN)
2012/3/11 7:23:46 Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana on Sunday denied media reports that Congress MPs from the region were not participating in the by-elections campaign.
Talking to reporters at Vanaparti before proceeding for election campaign in Kollahpur constituency, Botsa said that all the Congress MPs from the region were participating in the campaign and there were no differences within the party. He said that the Congress leaders have been approaching the voters in seven assembly segments with the development programmes and welfare schemes being implemented by the government.
Claiming that the Congress party would win all the seats in by-elections, Botsa said that the TDP would get fourth place in the by-polls.
The PCC president said that the State Government was preparing to hold local bodies elections in the month of April. They will start with elections to Cooperative Bodies, followed by Municipal and Panchayat elections. (INN)
CM most inefficient ever, remotely controlled: Babu
2011/5/29 10:52:22
Alleging that administration in Andhra Pradesh was being remotely controlled by New Delhi and was totally paralysed, Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday stated that this was because of the ‘most inefficient Chief Minister ever’ holding office.’
Addressing the delegates on the concluding day of TDP’s 30th annual conclave Mahanadu at Gandipet on Sunday, Mr Naidu said that the N Kiran Kumar Reddy government was effectively run through a remote control in the hands of the Congress High Command in New Delhi.
“The remote controlled government has led to the administration in the state coming to a standstill,” he said.
The TDP chief attributed the remote control because, “Incumbent Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy is the most inefficient person to ever hold that post in the state.”
“The Congress has a culture to regularly changing Chief Ministers. The present Chief Minister might be changed soon,” Mr Naidu stated.
“He is inefficient and has failed to even control his own Cabinet. The Congress might the Chief Minister soon, for his inefficiency and inability to set his house in order,” Mr Naidu stated.
The former chief minister added that the people have witnessed the differences between Ministers. “The differences have come to the fore, with Ministers indulging in turf wars. This is due to his (Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy’s ineffective style of functioning. This may also lead to law and order problems in the state,” he said.
Stating the woman and youth are two eyes of party, Mr Naidu said the TDP would give top priority for both these sections in the party.
The former chief minister added that the TDP would agitate for implementation of 33 per cent reservations for women in the elected bodies and also demanded that the government hold elections for local bodies immediately.
“The Congress has been delaying the local bodies’ elections since it fears suffering a loss. The elections must be held immediately,” Mr Naidu demanded.
Municipal elections should not be delayed: Loksatta
2011/8/24 8:10:30 The Lok Satta Party will wage a legal battle against deferment of elections to local bodies, said party leaders Katari Srinivasa Rao and P Bhaskara Rao here on Wednesday while commenting on government's plans to postpone municipal elections for the third time.
They pointed out that barring a few exceptions, instead of elected people's representatives municipalities, zilla parishads and mandal parishads are being run by the officials. This is contrary to the letter and spirit of the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution. Even the Supreme Court in a 2002 verdict had faulted special officers’ rule in zilla and mandal parishads.
The Lok Satta leaders alleged that fearing a rout, the ruling Congress party was giving technical excuses to defer the local body elections. (INN)
State Cabinet gives green signal to local bodies poll
2012/3/19 8:47:21 The State Cabinet on Monday gave green signal for the conduct of local bodies elections across the State.
The cabinet had a detailed discussion on the issue when it met at the State Secretariat here on Monday evening. However, the local bodies elections are likely to be held in June. Further, the cabinet also discussed the next by-elections to be held in 18 constituencies, including Tirupati, which would fall vacant after the election of K Chiranjeevi to Rajya Sabha.
Source say that the ministers have asked Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to decided the candidates for 18 seat early to ensure that they get sufficient time for campaigning. It has also been decided to appoint constituency in-charge besides holding district review meetings on regular basis.
The cabinet also review the raids of Anti-Corruption Bureau against the liquor mafia. Some ministers felt that the liquor scam could have been avoided if the Enforcement Department of the Prohibition and Excise Department would have acted promptly. The Chief Minister reportedly remained silent while the ministers were discussing the ACB raids across the State.
According to sources, Panchayat Raj Minister K Jana Reddy raised the issue of energy crisis in the State. The cabinet has accepted his proposal of constituting a Cabinet Sub-Committee to monitor the power situation. Further, he asked the cabinet to adopt non-conventional sources of energy to reduce dependability on thermal and hydel power stations.
The cabinet also had a discussion on increase in the Value Added Tax. However, the Chief Minister reportedly told his cabinet that the VAT has been increased by the Centre and the State could not reduce it.
Marketing Minister Mukesh Goud abstained from the Cabinet meeting due to ill-health. (INN
2011/6/14 9:06:22 Hailing the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s green signal to the State Elections Commission to go ahead with elections to the Local Bodies, Telugu Desam Party MLC and Sarpanches Sangham president Yelamanchili Babu Rajendra Prasad on Tuesday claimed that the TDP would win 80 per cent of the seats it contests.
Mr Rajendra Prasad told media persons at the NTR Trust Bhavan that the High Court, by deciding not to interfere in the question of quotas, had retained the reservations implemented during the Telugu Desam Party’s rule.
The MLC further said that the TDP is committed to the welfare of poor and backward and is ready to fight for their problems anytime.
He asked the party cadre to gear up for the elections and sink any existing differences among themselves.
Hailing the High Court’s ruling, senior party leader Somireddy Chandra Mohan expressed confidence that the party would win the Local Body elections as it has a strong base in the constituencies.(INN)
2012/4/21 3:36:13 New Delhi, April 21 (INN): Central Election Commissioner Hari Shankar Brahma on Saturday said that the by-elections to all constituencies in the country would be held before the Presidential Elections in July.
Talking to media persons, Hari Shanker Brahma said, “It is a normal practice of conducting by-elections to all the constituencies in the country before the Presidential elections." He said that the notification for the by-elections has been delayed as the Election Commission of India was yet to receive information from a few states over conducting of by-elections. “Once the ECI receives complete information from the respective States, the Commission will issue notification for conducting the by-elections,” he said.
Responding to Andhra Pradesh Government's plan to conduct local body elections before the by-elections in the State, he said that the Commission was not concerned with the local bodies’ polls as they fall under the purview of State Government. “We should not link local body elections to by-elections in the Andhra Pradesh,” he pointed out.
Govt admits paying nominal part of MV Tax to local bodies
2012/3/27 6:55:52 Minister for Municipal Administration M Mahidhar Reddy on Tuesday admitted that the State Government itself was levying and collecting Motor Vehicle Tax and allocating a very nominal part of it to the municipal bodies.
Replying to a question raised by MIM MLCs Syed Alfaq Hyder Rizvi and Syed Aminul Hasan Jafri, he said that it was fact the Second Finance Commission has recommended that 10 percent of Motor Vehicle Tax realized by the State Government be given to the urban local bodies including the GHMC.
He also informed the House that the government has agreed to devolve Rs 100 crores per annum in lump sum to ULBs and Rs 200 crore to Panchayat Raj institutions towards Second State Finance Commission grants based on the recommendation of the Cabinet sub-committee. (INN)
TDP prepares to give tough fight to Congress in LB polls
2011/6/14 2:41:01 Even as the state government is awaiting a High Court’s ruling on the conducting of elections to Local Bodies, the main opposition party, the Telugu Desam Party has announced that it aims to give a tough fight to the Congress and capture as many seats as possible.
TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday told media persons after launching a two-day workshop `Medho Madana Sadasu’ at NTR Trust Bhavan, that the party has decided to appoint one in-charge each for all Assembly constituencies and two in-charges for each Parliamentary constituency in the state as part of the party’s measures to ensure its win.
The TDP chief also demanded that the government implement reservation to Backward Class communities in the local bodies based on their population. “If needed, the government should amend the law to increase their quota in local bodies,” Mr Naidu demanded.
He further alleged that former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy had diverted the funds released for the SC/STs development to other programmes.
The TDP chief also called upon his party cadre to make concerted efforts for strengthening the party at grassroots level to effectively take on the ruling party in the impending local body elections.
Claiming that the Telugu Desam Party is the only alternative to the Congress in the state, Mr Naidu revealed that the `Medho Madana Sadasu’ has discussed how to strengthen party and future course of agitation to be adopted on public issues.
He said the party has dedicated to take up agitations on public issues at state level, besides seeking the support of National level parties.
Slamming the Bharatiya Janata party for its failure in functioning as effective Opposition at National level, Mr Naidu said due to its inefficiency, the Congress party has involved in rampant corruption.
The meeting was attended by prominent party leaders including Telangana Forum Convener Errabelli Dayakar Rao, senior leader Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, Nandamuri Harikrishna, MPs, MLAs, politburo members and district in-charges.(INN)
2011/12/17 16:38:50 The YSR Congress party will organise 'Rythu Sadassu' (farmers conventions) across the State on December 23 on the occasion of National Farmers' Day.
The decision was taken during the Central Governing Committee meeting held at party president and Kadapa MP Jagan Mohan Reddy's residence Lotus Pond here on Saturday. Briefing the media person about the CGC's decisions, party spokesperson Ambati Rambabu said that the Rythu Sadassu would be an eye opener for the State Government which has ignored the welfare of farmers.
Ambati said that the YSR Congress party would also organise massive protest at all districts headquarters on January 4 demanding that the State Government clear all the arrears under the fee reimbursement scheme for students. Jagan Mohan Reddy will participate in the protest at Ongole.
The CGC has also decided to participate in the next local bodies elections. Ambati said that the YSR Congress party was ready to face the local bodies’ elections, which he said should be held without further delay. (INN)
The producers of the show Big Boss – 4 have managed to obtain a stay on the order of the I&B ministry to telecast the show only at 11.00 p.m. instead of 9.00 p.m. due to the adult content in the show.
The Colours TV channel approached the Mumbai High Court and the court granted stay on the I&B order.
So as of now Big Boss will continue to be aired at 9.00 p.m. as before.
Municipal Administration Minister M Mahidhar Reddy on Thursday announced that the State Government was likely to conduct elections to local bodies before the by-elections to 18 Assembly segments in the State.
Municipal Administration & Urban Development Minister M Mahidhar Reddy on Friday reiterated that the government was committed to conduct elections for the local bodies by May-end.
Telangana Rahstra Samithi Siddipet MLA T Harish Rao on Monday asked Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to immediately conduct elections for the local bodies.
Telugu Desam Party senior leader K Yerram Naidu on Thursday demanded that the State Government immediately announce the schedule for conducting elections to the local bodies in the State.
Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana on Sunday denied media reports that Congress MPs from the region were not participating in the by-elections campaign.
Minister for Municipal Administration M Mahidhar Reddy on Tuesday admitted that the State Government itself was levying and collecting Motor Vehicle Tax and allocating a very nominal part of it to the municipal bodies.
The YSR Congress party will organise 'Rythu Sadassu' (farmers conventions) across the State on December 23 on the occasion of National Farmers' Day.
