Chennai: High profile RK Nagar that is vacant due to the demise of former CM Jayalalithaa will now have to suffer without an MLA and councillors during this summer and this will continue at least for next three months, admit highly placed informed sources. The electorate who accepted cash for votes will now have to depend only on bureaucrats to address their drinking water needs, power outages and civic issues.
“Due to the prevailing political turmoil both the Election Commission of India and the State Election commission are not ready for an immediate election. The free flow of cash for vote has made the poll managers unhappy and the ECI will wait for a conducive atmosphere so that the polls can be held in in a free and fair manner. The poll process will take at least three months and it may even extend up to 12 months”, said an informed source with Public Elections Department.
“Not only RK Nagar, the entire state is undergoing a crisis due to power politics. While the Election Commission of India is playing in the hands of BJP led Centre, the state election commission is not ready to hold civic polls fearing that the ruling AIADMK may get defeated”, alleged former Chennai mayor and Saidapet legislator Ma Subramanian. “The state is undergoing an acute shortage of drinking water and there is no elected council to address the issues. Not all officers understand the demands of the public. Local bodies play a significant role in addressing the public demands ranging from drinking water, garbage accumulation and roads used by motorists, he said. Further delay in filling up of the 12,000 local body posts from mayor to municipal councillor is a threat to Panchayat Raj, he said.
“It is a fact that RK Nagar is headless without elected representatives. We are also realizing that the constituency is now suffering without the presence of a strong MLA. Residents are facing water shortages and there is no adequate attention from bureaucrats”, rued Ms G. Komaleswari, a resident of New Washermenpet.
