AP Sounds Poll Bugle For Elections to 100 ULBs Soon
The state government has accorded permission to take necessary steps for conduct of ordinary elections
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh has sounded the poll bugle to conduct ordinary elections to the Urban Local Bodies including municipal corporations, municipalities and nagar panchayats with implementation of reservation to the Backward Classes in the state soon.
Municipal administration and urban development principal secretary S Suresh Kumar issued GO Rt 1065 here on
Wednesday. Accordingly, out of a total number of 123 ULBs, the tenure of elected council in 87 ULBs expired while the tenure of councils of 13 ULBs is going to expire in November. With this, 100 ULBs are to be covered in the
ensuing election process.
However, there are 23 ULBs where elections could not be conducted earlier due to pending court cases and other related issues.
The state government has accorded permission to take necessary steps for conduct of ordinary elections
to the ULBs in coordination with the AP State Election Commission. It authorised the municipal administration and urban development department and the commissioner and director of municipal administration to coordinate with
the AP state election commission and other concerned authorities for completion of all pre-election requirements, including electoral rolls, ward-related requirements, reservation notifications and other statutory processes.
It is permitted to implement existing provisions of one-third (33.33%) reservations for backward classes vide Section 6 and 14 (A) of AP municipal corporations act, 1994 in respect of municipal corporations and vide Section 8 and 24 of the AP Municipalities Act, 1965 in respect of municipalities and nagar panchayats.
The government also authorised the department of municipal administration and urban development to issue consequential orders and take all further action required for implementation of the decision of the council of ministers.
Earlier, the state election commission issued instructions for undertaking preparedness activities for conduct of elections to ULBs and accordingly, it is necessary that the preparatory and consequential activities on the part of the government are completed in a time-bound manner to enable the SEC to proceed with the election process as per law.
Moreover, the GO stated that formation of a duly constituted ULBs is an essential requirement to get eligibility for the Finance Commission grants apart from fulfilling constitutional and democratic governance.