Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Apr 4: The State Election Commission is gearing up to hold gram panchayat elections on either May 16 or 23. The official notification of the Commission will be issued during the last week of April, and the model code of conduct will come into force from the first week of May, sources in the Commission clarified. Once the gram panchayat elections are over, the Commission will take up taluk and zilla panchayat elections.

The terms of most of the gram panchayats in the state have expired, and the Election Commission is under pressure to hold elections at the earliest, from various quarters including political parties.  Sources in the Election Commission said that the Commission is not in a position to hold elections in April because of some technical problems. The main hitch is the National Population Register and Census 2011, which will begin on April 15, and end on May 15. During this period, most of the government employees and teachers drawn for this work will not be available for the election duties.

The state government too has indirectly favoured the postponement of the election because of the worsened summer, shortage of fodder, drinking water and power, knowing fully well that this situation might cast adverse affect on the election.

Even though the gram panchayat elections are fought on individual basis, it has become customary to identify the elected members with different political parties. The political parties are interested to hold gram panchayat elections as soon as possible, as they are aware that having more number of candidates supported by them in the gram panchayats will eventually help them to rise to power in taluk and zilla panchayats.