Cong. wants candidates' names on ballots

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, AUG. 1. The Congress has objected to the State Election Commission's move not to publish the candidates' names on ballot papers in the ensuing Gram Panchayat elections.

It has lodged an objection with the SEC on the grounds that it would be almost impossible for people and even the polling officials to remember the symbols of candidates. In fact, the voters found it difficult to recall the symbols of national-level political parties like the splinter groups of the Janata Dal.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, the PCC spokesmen, Mr. K. Rosaiah and Mr. K. Keshava Rao, said the party had urged the SEC to print the candidates names on the ballots and avoid confusion among voters. Asserting that this was the practice in the previous panchayat elections, they said this not the occasion to experiment.

They clarified that the Congress would continue its electoral understanding with the Communists in the panchayat elections though they would be held on non-party basis. The party had asked its district units to field and support candidates who believed in the concept of self-governance and reject those who supported the TD Government's ``anti-people'' policies such as the hike in power tariff.

Referring to the promises made by the TDP supremo, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, on the eve of the Mandal and Zilla Parishad polls, they said the ruling party was duty-bound to implement them now. These promises include the construction of a lift irrigation project across the Godavari at Devadula and five other minor irrigation schemes in Adilabad district.

High Court verdict hailed

Meanwhile, the party welcomed the direction given by the A. P. High Court to conclude the election process for the Hyderabad and Rajahmundry Municipal Corporations within 90 days. They urged the Government to give up its reported plans to appeal against the verdict.

The party spokesmen said the `excuses' being put forth by the Government against holding the polls now was a reflection of its inefficiency if not an attempt to subvert democracy by seeking postponement of the long-overdue elections to the Corporation. In the absence of an elected body since a decade, civic administration had lost its human face with the MCH demolishing 72 hutments in the capital.

Later, a delegation of Congress leaders submitted a memorandum to the State Election Commissioner, Mr. K. Madhav Rao, stating that the failure to conduct elections after passage of the 73rd amendment amounted to Constitutional violation. The SEC must immediately initiate the election process without looking to the State Government's manipulative methods.

The delegation included Mr. C. Prakash Gowd, working president of the City Youth Congress, who was one of the petitioners in the High Court, Mr. M. Anjan Kumar Yadav, and Mr. Ch. Balraj, general secretary.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : PCC chief declares war against 'betrayers'
Next     : YSR threatens stir over neglect of drought-hit
           areas