Hold local body polls forthwith: Puducherry BJP

BJP state president V Saminathan in a statement said that the Congress in its election manifesto had promised the local body elections and came to power. But, over the last two years, no steps have been taken to hold the civic polls citing that the matter is sub-judice.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Puducherry, had advised the administration to hold the elections to disseminate power at the grass-root level, Mr Saminathan said. Since Panchayat Raj system is not in force here, Puducherry is losing several crores of rupees from the Centre which hinders the development of villages, he said.

The government should appoint a State Electoral Officer and start the work for holding the local body elections, he added.