The process of holding by-elections in the five wards of the Pampadumpara grama panchayat where the ward members were disqualified for defection under the Anti-defection Law has started. The revising of the voters' list has been started in the panchayat, though the election date is yet to be announced.
The final voters' list will be published by April 18 to hold the by-elections as early as possible, said an official of the grama panchayat. The wards to go for by-polls are ward No 1,2,3,4 and 14 as the United Democratic Front members were disqualified for voting in the president's election against the party whip. Though the members had moved the High Court against the disqualification by the Election Commission, the court order too was in favour of the disqualification.
The Election Commission order for revising the voters list and publication of the final voters list reached the panchayat recently. The blueprint of the voters' list was also published in the panchayat, village and taluk offices. The voters can apply for changes in the voters' list and to add names till April 15.
In the 16-member grama panchayat, there were 12 UDF members in addition to three Left Democratic Front members and an independent supported by Bharatiya Janata Party. With the disqualification, the UDF has seven members and is ruling the panchayat. Both for the UDF and the LDF, the by-election is important and the voters reaction to the disqualification will be reflected in the by-polls.
