TDP announces boycott of local body elections

Naveen S Garewal

Tribune News Service

Hyderabad, April 4

Andhra Pradesh’s main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has decided not to contest the Zilla and Mandal Parishad elections alleging that the polls would not be conducted in a free and fair manner. The announcement of the party comes within days of the Andhra State Election Commission (SEC) issuing a notification for holding rural local bodies.

Former Chief Minister and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu expressed doubts over the conduct of the polls in a free and fair manner. The TDP was completely wiped out in the recently held Panchayat Polls in the state. “I don’t think these polls will be held freely and fairly. Therefore, the party has decided not to participate in these polls,” Naidu said.

Andhra Pradesh held polls in some constituencies while in others they are still due. Out of 9,696 Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTC) 2,371 seats were won uncontested, ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) winning 2,271. The election will now be held for the remaining 7,322 seats. Of the 652 Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTC), 126 were won uncontested, all by the ruling YSRCP, and the election will now be conducted for 526 seats.

The former chief minister objected to the manner in which the poll notification was issued. Former Chief Secretary Neelam Sawhney, who took over as the State Election Commissioner (SEC) issued the notification within hours of taking over the new assignment, Naidu said.

Naidu accused the SEC of being reduced to a mere rubber stamp in the Parishad polls and sought a fresh notification of local body elections on account of the Tirupati Lok Sabha bye-poll.

As per the notification issued earlier this week, Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTC) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTC) would be held on April 8, and results would be declared on April 10. The polls, originally scheduled to be held in 2020, were put on hold by then SEC Ramesh Kumar, citing the COVID-19 pandemic.

The other political parties in Andhra, namely the BJP and Jana Sena also boycotted Friday’s all-party meet convened by the SEC. The new SEC convened a meeting with Chief Secretary Aditya Nath Das and followed it up with all District Collectors and police officials on poll preparedness.