TDP seeks Andhra Guv’s intervention in local body polls

Amaravati, Jan 10 : Amid another stand-off between the Andhra Pradesh government and the State Election Commission (SEC) on the holding of panchayat elections, opposition TDP on Sunday urged Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan to intervene in the matter.
Former Minister and senior Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Y Ramakrishnudu said that the SEC has the right to conduct the elections as per Article 243A and 243K(1). He said that it was for the Governor to make the required staff available for holding elections in the state.
The TDP leader alleged that the situation in the state was such that it could attract Article 356 of the Constitution pertaining to the breakdown of the state machinery and impostition of President’s rule.
He accused the YSR Congress Party government in the state of working to “destroy the institutions of legislature, judiciary, executive, media and police”.
“Since there is a breakdown of the Constitution, the situation attracts Article 365. When the situation in a state is not conducive to governance, the Governor should intervene,” he said.
The TDP leader termed as “ridiculous” the statement by Ministers that the state government can’t cooperate in the conduct of the elections. “Such a situation never arose in the country’s history,” he said.