Andhra Pradesh ready for local body polls, awaiting SC verdict on BC quota: Narayana

Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development Ponguru Narayana has said that the State government is fully prepared to conduct local body elections and is only awaiting the Supreme Court verdict on the status of reservations for Backward Classes (BCs).

The Minister has launched several developmental projects in his constituency over the past week, ahead of the local body elections, which are due shortly.

Speaking to the media after laying the foundation stone and performing Bhumi Puja for a Sachivalayam building in the city’s 10th Corporation Division on Sunday, Mr. Narayana said any delay in conducting the elections could cost the State dearly, as it could result in the loss of about ₹12,000 crore in funds from the 16th Finance Commission.

“As Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has already directed us to proceed with the election process, we are only waiting for the Supreme Court verdict on BC reservations. As soon as the verdict is delivered, we will move ahead,” he said.

Accusing the YSR Congress Party of deliberately obstructing the election process to prevent funds from reaching the State’s development programmes, Mr. Narayana recalled that the previous YSRCP government had not conducted elections to 23 municipalities, resulting in the urban local bodies being deprived of funds due from the 15th Finance Commission.

Apart from the issue of BC reservations, the reorganisation of wards and divisions would also fall within the purview of the State Election Commission, he said in response to a question.