AP government urged to hold elections to local bodies

Kadapa: Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president and PCC vice-president N Tulasi Reddy has demanded that the State government immediately conduct elections to local bodies in the State.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, he said that as many as 13,068 panchayats were under special officer rule since August 2 and the term of 660 mandals and 13 Zilla Parishads concluded in the State on July 3 and 4 respectively.

The PCC vice-president pointed out that due to the failure of the State government in conducting elections to local bodies, administration came to a standstill in villages and the Centre stopped release of Rs 2,500 crore to the State.

He said sanitation turned worse and several villages were under darkness due to lack of street lights.

Alleging that the State government has diverted Rs 1845 crore NREGS funds to other welfare schemes, he said the workers were facing problems to eke out a living.

He said the YSRCP government had deceived the AgriGold victims by allocating just Rs 244 crore against the promised Rs 1150 crore.

Tulasi Reddy expressed concern over the growing attacks on scribes at different places in the State. He opined that there was a threat to the Freedom of Press.

He said the government should take responsibility over the attacks on media personnel. party leaders SK Nazir Ahmed, Jakaraiah, N Srinivasa Rao and others were present.