Parties Want Municipal Polls Shifted

Almost all political parties in the state have requested the Election Commission of India to either postpone the municipal elections or to withhold the announcement of their results till the completion of the Lok Sabha elections.

Speaking to media personnel after attending the all-party meeting convened by Chief Electoral officer Bhanwarlal at the State Secretariat on Wednesday, BJP leader Dr K Lakshman said that the results of the municipal elections, which are to be held on March 30, might influence the voters who will have to cast their votes in the Lok Sabha polls exactly a month later.

He also requested the Election Commission to keep a proper check on paid news circulation and articles while taking stern measures to stop the use of liquor and money power.

Lakshman said that the Excise Department should be directed not to sell extra quota during elections.

Congress leader B Kamalakar Rao also demanded that the Election Commission should withhold the results of the municipal elections till the Lok Sabha polls have been held.

He also asked the ECI to ensure a definitive increase in the polling percentage, especially in the tribal and other remote areas of the state.

K Ravindra Kumar of the TDP requested the Election Commission to ensure that the irregularities or discrepencies which had been observed in the previous elections are not repeated during this poll.

He said that the same set of voters' list should be provided to both the Returning Officer and the candidates.

A team of ten representatives, with two each from five political parties, participated in the meeting. (INN)