Elections can be conducted as per the schedule submitted by the state
Kerala High Court
Kochi: The State Election Commission on Wednesday submitted before Kerala High Court that it supports the recent plea filed by the government seeking the extension of one month’s time to conduct the local body elections. Elections can be conducted as per the schedule submitted by the state, the commission said.
The government had said that elections can be held by November 30 so that the new committees would take charge on December 1. According to the election commission, in view of the legal and factual issues, there are exceptional circumstances that elections to the local bodies cannot be conducted before the expiry of the present term.
The election to all grama panchayats and other local bodies other than 28 new municipalities, new Kannur corporation, reconstituted Kollam corporation, six grama panchayats, 30 block panchayats and 13 district panchayats can be held on the basis of the 2011 general election. Elections to the rest can be held on the basis of the present reconstitution and the delimitation.
Mr Murali Purushothaman appearing for the election commission filed the affidavit as per the court directive. The court will consider the plea on Thursday. Holding elections in two phases will not be efficient. The election commission also stated that it was not in a position to hold the elections before October 31. If the elections to the newly- constituted local bodies are to be conducted, there is need to reconstitute the six grama panchayars, 30 block panchayats and 13 district panchayats.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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