May 28: The Karnataka State Election Commission on Thursday announced postponement of gram panchayat polls citing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Out of 6,025 gram panchayats, the tenure of 5,800 gram panchayats will end by June-August 2020.
"After examining the feasibility of conducting general elections to gram panchayats, the State Election Commission, considering the current situation as exceptional circumstance, has decided to temporarily postpone the general elections to the gram panchayats," the SEC said in a release.
It said after examining the situation in the days to come, the decision will be taken on holding the general elections to the gram panchayats.
The CEC also states that report by Deputy Commissioners of districts on holding the elections was verified and it has been found that district administrations are involved in COVID-19 related work and there will be shortage of staff and transport facilities for the elections. Besides, there would be a problem in maintaining law and order.
Last week through a letter to Deputy Commissioners of districts, the commission had sought opinion on holding panchayat polls amid the COVID-19 crisis. It had also pointed out that electoral roll needs to be prepared and reservations had to be allocated as per the new amendments.
Stating that the state election commission's decision to postpone gram panchayat elections was against the provisions of the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act 1993, the Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah said the Congress will question this "undemocratic act" in the court of law.
He accused the commission of playing to the BJP's tune and said the congress will protest the decision at gram panchayat level.
Opposition parties in the state, especially congress, have been demanding elections.
The government was in favour of postponement of polls and wants to have administrative committees to govern the panchayats, until the polls are held, according to government sources.
The Congress, raising apprehension about administrative committees, has accused the government of conspiring to have ruling BJP workers as its members.
A congress delegation had last week submitted a petition to State Election Commissioner B Basavaraju and urged the Commission to hold elections.
The congress had even suggested continuation of sitting panchayat members until the polls are held, instead of appointing administrative committees.
Comments
Unempolyment and farmer death are the issues gifted on us by the central BJP government from demonitisation and GST. Now our PM friends Donald trumps administration also accepted that due to this two isssues Indias growth has been slow for more then a year now.
Unemployment of whom ? Siddaramaiah claims 15 lakhs jobs have been created but has yedduyurappa the guts to ask how many native Kannadigas got the job ?
Regarding cauvery why he did not even open his mouth on SC judgment .
Was there a gag order from Delhi high command. He did not have guts to even welcome the judgment. Probably he knows it was outright injustice to Karnataka but he is helpless and is concerned about his career ! Of course Cong & JD-S also did not have the guts.
Regarding atrocities on women nothing prevents Modi govt. making stringent laws and Karnataka will definitely welcome it. But Modi is too busy with "Man ki bath " , Foreign tours. All he knows is vandemataram & Yoga and of course mudslinging on congress which anyway it rightly deserves.
So native Kannadigas reject the three parties BJP, Cong & Jd-S and
and bring a Kannada party to power or follow the crowd like fools
and dig your own grave. Ignore all the posts of migrants & traitors .
No Unemployment and Farmers suicide in BJP ruled states.
infants,Mothers,Women,Girls, Pregnant women are being Raped, burnt and killed alive. and you are talking about women safety.
Protection of wives is also a key issue.
You said truth but a small correction needed. These are the key issues to highlight only for election..
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