No Local Body Elections In July

Following an appeal made by the AP Sarpanches' Association over the contentious issue of reservations in the ZPPs and MPPs, a Division Bench of the High Court has granted a 'stay' on the Local Body elections. The stay was given over the quota system that was communicated to the Court by the state government.

The Court also said that the GO that stipulated the reservation system for the said ZPPs and MPPs must 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 exceeds the ceiling quota - 50% - 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 furnished to the state High Court is invalid.

Ramakanth Reddy said that the controversial elections would be held only after the government sends a revised list of details related to reservations for the Local Bodies.

Even as the issue is being dragged to the Court by the Sarpanches' Association, the N Kiran Kumar Reddy government is said to be engrossed in a closed-door 'exercise' that might save the skin of the ruling party. Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana was also present, and held deliberations with the Chief Minister on the issue.

Sources indicate that the government may opt for an Ordinance for the appointment of Special Officers to the Local Body institutions to tide over the crisis, for the present. Another source signals that the Court verdict has come in handy for the N Kiran Kumar Reddy administration to have a free run till September. (INN)