Chennai: DMK legislator Ma Subramanian, Congress leader K. R. Ramasamy and IUML’s lone member K. A. M. Muhammad Abubacker opposed the move and demanded the conduct of the local body polls expeditiously. Mr. Subramanian alleged that the delimitation of territorial wards was but an excuse and said people are turning towards the legislators to express their grievances on the civic works hitting a roadblock due to the absence of elected representatives at local bodies level. Mr. Subramanian wondered how special officers could tackle civic issues that are handled by elected municipal council.
Refuting, Mr. Velumani said the special officers ensured the smooth functioning of the local bodies. “No development work has been affected so far. The government is ready to hold the civic polls but the delimitation of territorial wards are being undertaken and the matter was pending in the Supreme Court.”
To this, Subramanian said it was a fact that his party had approached the court, which was, however, was only for holding the elections properly.
When the SEC notified local body polls in September 2016 to hold the polls in two phases on October 17 and 19 that year, the DMK approached the Madras High Court contending that the notification for the polls was done in haste. The DMK wanted the polls to be conducted by providing adequate reservation to Scheduled Tribes, necessary rotation of seats in all the posts, as mandated by the Constitution. The civic poll issue is now pending before the Supreme Court.
