Congress approaches HC seeking extension in GHMC polls dates

Congress senior leader Marri Shashidhar Reddy on Tuesday approached the Hyderabad High Court alleging that the Telangana Government has failed to comply with the undertaking it gave to the High Court on conducting elections for Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.

Shashidhar Reddy said that the State Government did not comply with the time schedule fixed by the High Court to conduct the GHMC elections while acting on a Public Interest Litigation. He sought extension of time for conducting the GHMC polls. Admitting the petition, the High Court has posted the matter for hearing on Wednesday.

Speaking to media persons at Gandhi Bhavan, Shashidhar Reddy said that the government was deviating from the rule by not conducting GHMC elections in 45 days period. He said that the complaints related to deleted voters were yet to be addressed. Further, the State Election Commission was yet to publish the BC Voters list. While the BC population was reported above 50% in the Intensive Household Survey, the GHMC’s enumeration of BC voters showed BC voters as only 26%. He said that the delimitation of wards was done in an unscientific manner. He alleged that the GHMC Commissioner has been violating the rules and set norms on the directions of TRS Government.

The Congress leader said that the TRS Government has amended the GHMC Act on Monday night reducing the time for election process to 14 days. He said this was done only to deny the opposition parties adequate time for campaign. He said that the GHMC elections could not be conducted unless all discrepancies are weeded out. Therefore, he said that the Congress party would approach the Supreme Court if it fails to get a favourable order from the High Court on Wednesday. (INN)