TDP faults KCR’s idea of changing PR Act

Hanamkonda: Telugu Desam Party national secretary Revuri Prakash Reddy criticised the Chief Minister, K Chandrashekar Rao, for trying to hoodwink the people by diverting their attention from burning issues.

Speaking to the media persons at the party office here on Sunday, he said KCR brought forward the idea of formulating a new Panchayat Raj Act in the name of strengthening the administration with vested interests.

“Despite the Constitutional Amendments 73 and 74 heralding decentralisation of power ushering in three-tier government, the State government is yet to delineate all the 29 powers to local bodies. Barring 10, the State held back all other powers and they were reduced to mere GOs,” Reddy said, accusing the previous and the incumbent governments for diluting the act.

Stating that the government hasn’t provided funds to local bodies, he found fault with the establishment for directly using Central funds for the payment of pending electricity bills. The sarpanches have no role to play in this transaction, he said. Moreover, the government is trying to have its sway over the sarpanches by constituting committees, which have power to remove sarpanches from power, he alleged, opposing the move. During the TDP regime, the PR system was strengthened, he said, referring to the pressure they exerted on the Centre to conduct direct elections so that local body administration to work better. He demanded that the State government should pass on all the powers bestowed under the 73 and 74 amendments and not to intrude into the affairs of the local governments.

Referring to the arrest of Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi founder president Manda Krishna Madiga, the TDP Urban district president Eega Mallesham said that KCR appears to be in jitters sensing revolt from the people in the next elections. He demanded the government to release Manda Krishna immediately. He said that a delegation led by party’s senior leaders L Ramana and Revuri Prakash Reddy will meet the President Ram Nath Kovind to lodge a complaint in regard with the irregularities taking place in TRS government.