Local Body Polls To Be Held on Schedule, Lokesh Tells Ministers

 VIJAYAWADA: Calling upon ministers to gear up for the local body elections, education minister Nara Lokesh on Thursday said the polls would be conducted as scheduled and urged the alliance leaders to begin preparations for a sweeping victory.

Chairing a breakfast meeting with ministers ahead of the cabinet meeting, Lokesh reviewed key issues, including preparations for the local body elections, the upcoming assembly session strategy, public grievances and the prevailing El Nino conditions.

Lokesh asked every minister and public representative to work extensively at the grassroots level so that the alliance candidates secure the maximum of seats in the local body polls. He urged ministers to explain to the people the "damage" caused to the state during the YSRC government’s term and highlight the steps taken by the present government to restore order and accelerate development.

The minister advised leaders to undertake an intensive door-to-door campaign, spending at least three minutes at every household to explain the government's performance, welfare initiatives and development programmes. Such outreach would help “increase public awareness about the government's achievements and strengthen public confidence.”

Lokesh also discussed the strategy for the ongoing assembly session and asked ministers to comprehensively explain the impact of the El Nino conditions to the public through discussions in the house. While the recent inflow of floodwaters into reservoirs had provided some relief, he stressed that water resources should be managed with utmost caution.