For State Election Commission, it’s consensus Vs constitutional duty

THIRUVANANTHAPRUAM: With the High Court leaving the decision of local bodies poll to State Election Commission, the big question is whether the panel will stick to its constitutional obligation of having governing councils by November 1,2015 or go by the broader agreement reached with the government on extending the polls by one month to accommodate new municipalities and corporation.

If the commission decides to hold polls to the newly elected 28 municipalities and one corporation, then the elections are likely to be held by November end and the new governing councils would be in office by December 1,2015.

The SEC will be able to conduct the polls in time only if it excludes the newly created municipalities and sticks to the 2010 delimitation.

While the court has also given enough room to the Commission to decide whether to hold polls in single or two phases, it has pointed to the discharge of constitutional responsibility.

The local bodies’ polls were extended by a month during LDF Government’s regime with court’s permission in 2010 so there is a precedent as well.

However, sources said since this time the Court had refused to interfere; the situation on the ground was different.

Moreover, there is also a possibility that court gave a wrong verdict last time, they added. Sources said of the 152 blocks panchayats, delimitation was yet to be completed in 30 blocks and 13 district panchayats.

The newly created 28 municipalities and corporation are spread across these blocks. The Commission will require more time if elections were to be held in the new local bodies.

The reconstitution of block and district panchayats is an exhaustive and time consuming exercise. With the court now entrusting the decision with the Commission, as an emergency task it would try to complete exercise in two months.

Moreover, since the Government had insisted on holding elections in h newly constituted local bodies, it would be keen to provide all help to the commission to complete the process well within the time.

Moreover, the UDF considers the newly constituted local bodies as a political masterstroke that would provide the ruing front immense advantage in the ensuing polls.

The front’s confidence comes from the massive support from people who want their areas to be converted into municipalities and corporations.