lack of quorum affected polling
Vijayawada: Elections were held on Monday to fill 12 vacancies across 10 civic bodies in the state. However, elections could not take place in five civic bodies - Tirupati municipal corporation, Nandigama, Tuni, Piduguralla municipalities and Palakonda nagar panchayat - due to a lack of quorum and law-and-order issues.
As a result, the State Election Commission has decided to conduct elections for the five urban local bodies (ULBs) on Tuesday. The presiding officers were instructed to convene a special meeting at 11 am on Tuesday and ensure enhanced security measures to prevent untoward incidents.
Earlier, on January 27, the State Election Commission issued two notifications for elections to fill vacancies for four deputy mayors in the Tirupati, Nellore, and Eluru municipal corporations; and three chairpersons and five vice-chairpersons in seven other municipalities and nagar panchayats, including Nandigama, Hindupur, Palakonda, Buchireddypalem, Nuzvid, Tuni and Piduguralla.
As per the election schedule, the presiding officers of the concerned civic bodies convened special meetings at 11 am on Monday and conducted elections in the civic bodies, except for the five where elections were delayed.
Meanwhile, Opposition YSR Congress leaders accused the ruling Telugu Desam leaders of engaging in unethical practices, such as abducting corporators and offering bribes. They have called for the intervention of the High Court to address the alleged electoral malpractices.
