A question mark hangs over the proposed ground-breaking ceremony for the new capital city scheduled for June 6, with the Model Code of Conduct coming into force with immediate effect after the Election Commission notified polls to 12 seats in the Legislative Council on Tuesday.
Sources said the government would have to seek special permission from the Commission to go ahead with the ceremony in the changed scenario.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had announced the date for the event a week ago. Apparently, he does not want to delay it, as there is no auspicious date available for some months. He also indicated that the construction of the capital city would commence on Vijaya Dasami day.
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But, now the election notification appears to have thrown a spanner in the government’s plan.
Election on July 3
Meanwhile, election for the 12 seats will be held on July 3.
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Eleven seats fell vacant at the end of the term of the members, while one will be a by-election to the vacancy arising out of the resignation of S.V. Chandra Mohan Reddy from the Kurnool Local Authorities’ Constituency.
The other LACs going to the poll are Anantapur, Krishna, East Godavari, Guntur, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Chittoor, Krishna, Visakhapatnam and Prakasam.
Notification on June 9
The notification for the election will be issued on June 9, and the last date for filing of nominations is June 16. Scrutiny will be held on June 17, and the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is June 19. Counting of votes will be taken up on July 7.
Many senior leaders from the TDP are aspiring for tickets including Gali Muddu Krishnama Naidu, Payyavula Keshav and Somisetty Venkateshwarlu.