Andhra to proceed with rural local body polls

Amaravati, Jan 25 : With the Supreme Court dismissing Andhra Pradesh government’s petition to defer the rural local body polls, the state government on Monday decided to proceed with the elections.
“We respect the Supreme Court’s decision and the government machinery is going ahead with the elections,” said Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, Advisor (public affairs) to the Andhra Pradesh government.
Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy said that the government has announced financial incentives for unanimous elections and called upon the people to avail them.
He said that the government has amended the laws to punish people who influence the polls by offering money, liquor or just simply by blocking people from voting freely, and the violators will be jailed for two years and also get disqualified in case they are elected fraudulently.
“People should take note of all these changes for peaceful elections,” said Peddireddy.
Municipal Administration Minister Botcha Satyanarayana said the state government welcomes the Supreme Court judgment. “In accordance with the judgment, the government wishes to hold unbiased elections,” said Satyanarayana.