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
True mr. hari. well said.
Hari says,
HDK working as bank lobby. By allow to write exams in local languages, attracts more people. For one bank exam, bank people charging minimum 500 to 600 as fee. Vacancy will be around 1 to 50. But the aspirant will be more than thousands. Bank people getting huge amount of revenew only by one bank exam... Bank people looting us and HDK working as bank lobby
HDK working as bank lobby. By allow to write exams in local languages, attracts more people. For one bank exam, bank people charging minimum 500 to 600 as fee. Vacancy will be around 1 to 50. But the aspirant will be more than thousands. Bank people getting huge amount of revenew only by one bank exam... Bank people looting us and HDK working as bank lobby
HDK wants to make young people less competative. In KN many foreign students studying. Our people should compete with them. But this will make people lazy
Aspirants minimum eligibility for most of the posts is degree or master degree. So they are capable of writing in English
Kumaraswamy wanted to make people fools.
For understanding questions, can give questions in own language but should not allow to write in local languages.
Rubbish. By giving allowing to write in own language makes people more lazy and less competative..
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