Why rush for Local Polls before new voter rolls?: Sailajanath

Tadepalli, Oct 14: Former Minister and YSRCP senior leader Sake Sailajanath questioned the State Election Commission’s decision to conduct local body elections just before the publication of the revised final electoral rolls, asking why the government was rushing the process during the Dasara and Deepavali festival season.

Sailajanath said the final voter list after the electoral revision process is expected on October 16, yet the election schedule was announced barely 48 hours earlier using the existing rolls. He said the revision exercise had identified around 44 lakh entries relating to deceased, duplicate or long-term shifted voters, while nearly 11 lakh new voters were to be added. Conducting elections on the old rolls raises serious questions about duplicate, deceased and shifted voters remaining in the electoral process, he said.

He also questioned why elections were deferred in Mangalagiri-Tadepalli, Kakinada, Srikakulam and Rajamahendravaram, stating that coalition seat-sharing calculations should not determine the election calendar.

Sailajanath criticised the scheduling of nominations and elections during major festivals and said public hardship, drought conditions in Rayalaseema and other pressing issues were being ignored in the rush to complete elections before December.

He further raised concerns over bind-over proceedings, reopening of old cases, rowdy sheets and delays in issuing caste certificates and NOCs to YSRCP candidates.

Calling for constitutional, transparent and impartial conduct by the Election Commission, Sailajanath demanded equal opportunity for all candidates, use of accurate voter rolls and deployment of Central forces to ensure peaceful and fair elections.