Can’t hold local body polls now, govt tells SC

The government in an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, which is hearing a petition on civic poll delay, said that it was not possible to conduct the local body elections as the state officials were busy with the Lok Sabha and by poll elections.

“There is a delay in availing soft copies of the current voters roll from Election Commission of India and due to non-availability of the district administration machinery, undertaking electoral process is difficult,” the state said in its affidavit filed by State Rural Development and Panchayat Secretary Hansraj Varma.

The local body elections were due in 2016 and have been delayed for various reasons, including a red alert issued before Cyclone Gaja in November 2018. The opposition parties including the DMK have alleged that the ruling party was fearing a rout after the demise of AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa and hence postponing the polls.

Previously the State Election Commission (SEC)demanded three more months’ time to conduct civic polls in Tamil Nadu. In March, Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar hinted about conducting local body polls in twomonths’ time.