The Uttarakhand High Court has directed the State Government to conduct elections for local bodies in the State on time before April 30. The HC gave its decision here on Tuesday, in an appeal filed by the members of the Uttarkashi municipality council. As per the court directions, the electors’ list will be based on the 2001 census.
Talking to The Pioneer, Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli said that the court’s decision had vindicated his allegation that the Congress had conspired to defer the local body elections in the State due to fear of defeat. “The Congress-led State Government was trying to manipulate the system in the hope of faring better if local body elections were held later. However, by directing that the elections be held on time, the HC has facilitated a welcome development because the BJP is strong and will do well in the local body elections,” he stressed.
Chamoli said that as per the directions of the High Court, now all tasks like delimitation of wards have to be completed before April 7. Since the tenure of the local bodies is going to be over on May 5, 2013, therefore, obviously these civic body polls have to be completed before May 5, 2013, he added.
leader of Opposition in the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun, Ashok Verma, said that the BJP had misused power. Stating that the Congress respects the decision of the HC, he said that the party is politically strong and will do well in the election.
The matter of fact is that whereas the tenure of the civic bodies is going to end on May 5 this year, even after upgradation of the Haldwani and Haridwar municipal councils into municipal corporations over a year ago, there is no elected representation in these aforesaid civic bodies. Therefore, resentment among local public representatives here is quite high.
They are of the view that after dissolution of the Haldwani municipal council over a year ago, there is no elected representation in the Haldwani Municipal Corporation. It is presently being run by the officials concerned of the district administration.
That is why they are of the view that since, civic bodies are directly related to the issues of common people, timely elections of the civic bodies is vital.