Hyderabad: The State Election Commission is said to be gearing up to hold elections to the urban local bodies in two phases to side-step the stay orders on 77 municipalities. It will likely issue the notification on November 4.
Sources in the SEC said that it was taking steps to hold elections to 121 municipalities and 10 municipal corporations if the High Court vacated the stays against the 77 municipalities in one phase. If there is any delay in the court cases, then it will first hold elections to the ULBs which are litigation free.
In fact the term of the majority of 68 old municipalities and Karim-nagar, Ramagundam and Nizamabad municipal corporations ended on July 2.
After formation of the 73 new municipalities and seven new corporations, the government has proposed elections to the 138 ULBs, but the number was reduced to 121 with the court cases against the division and delimitation of wards and finalisation of the boundaries of the new entities.
The state government this could hold polls to only 66 ULBs, but the ruling party is planning to go for the elections to 121 ULBs by moving petitions to vacate the interim stay orders.
The government has moved the vacate stay petitions and the single judge who is dealing the cases made it clear that he will take final call on the petitions on Monday.
Sources said that if the High Court clears the cases on Monday the SEC would go for single phase elections for the 128 municipalities and Karimnagar, Ramagun-dam, Nizamabad, Band-laguda Jagir, Peerzadi-guda, Boduppal, Jawah-arnagar, Badangpet and Nizampet ULBs.
