Much delayed local body polls likely by May, hints Jayakumar

“The civic polls are likely by May. The State will implement 50 per cent reservation for women in all local bodies,” Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said on Friday, marking the women’s day celebrations organised by the AIADMK.

“It was the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa who brought in the historical decision to reserve 50 per cent seats for women. Her dream will be realised by the present AIADMK government,” Jayakumar said.

With elections being put off since 2016, more than 1.5 lakh local body posts are lying vacant across Tamil Nadu. The State Election Commission has been delaying the polls, citing the delimitation exercise and court litigations that are pending before the Madras High Court.

“The AIADMK initially delayed the civic polls due to the ill health of former CM Jayalalithaa. After her death, the polls were tactically delayed by the State Election Commission on the pretext of technical glitches,” former mayor and DMK MLA M Subramanian told DT Next.

“People across Tamil Nadu are affected due to the vacancies and there is no transparency in the administration as there is no elected council. The concept of civic administration and panchayat raj as envisaged by Mahatma Gandhi is being taken for a ride by the ruling AIADMK,” Subramaniam said.

He added that the AIADMK may again chose to postpone the civic polls as there was a possibility of the party losing the Lok Sabha polls, adding that its leadership is not confident of facing the elections without Jayalalithaa.

According to the State Election Commission, the posts of 12 mayors and 123 municipal chairmen, along with 12,500 councillor posts, are lying vacant at various corporation and municipalities that govern the cities and towns inthe State.