GVMC Elections Delay Invites Ire of Opposition

The amount of time between the conclusion of the term of the last general body of GVMC and now is five years. There has been undue delay in holding elections for the same, inviting the ire of opposition, especially Left and Congress.

The Left parties planned a hunger strike here yesterday to protest against the delay. The delay in elections of GVMC has become a regular thing now. Previously, when the term ended in 2005, elections were held in 2007. And when the council ended in 2012, elections couldn’t be held due to the merger between Anakapalle and Bheemunipatnam municipalities and GVMC. Later followed court cases, agitation due to bifurcation and Hudhud.

In spite of the good show put in by the TDP in all elections, election preparations have not even begun in the GVMC. The Legislative Council now seems like a dress rehearsal to the GVMC poll, says The Hindu. The reaction from opposition, other than the Left seems muted. The CPI(M) and CPI have planned a fast at the Gandhi statue.

Dronamraju Srinivasa Rao, Former Government Whip, says that development that were taken up by the Congress have all come to a halt. He further stated that in spite of high level events, no development can be seen at the grass root levels due to lack of monitoring by the corporators. Soon after Assembly elections, preparations were made, but after opposition from MLAs, the elections were put on hold, he says.

Other than the Visakhapatnam corporation, 10 other corporations are yet to hold elections. Not holding the civic elections violate the 74^th Constitutional amendment. The Left parties cite TDP’s insecurity as the reason for withholding the elections, citing them not fulfilling their promises as the reason for the same.