Local body polls: Confusion prevails on day-1 of nominations

Lucknow, Oct 3 (UNI) The nomination process for the three-tier Uttar Pradesh urban local body polls began today with confusion prevailing in most districts as several candidates still awaited authorisation letters from respective parties.

The state Congress, meanwhile, approved the name of former IPS officer and ex-VC of Agra University Dr Mansoor Ahmed as its candidate for the post of Lucknow Mayor.

While the rulng Samajwadi Party is all set to issue authorisation letter to its candidates, the Rashtriya Lok Dal has authorised its district units to select the names of 'winnable' candidates. The RLD also decided to back Congress and the SP in seats where it had little chances of winning. ''We will not support BJP,'' an RLD leader said here.

The State Election Commission said although final figures were not immediately available, over 1,000 candidates filed nominations today.

Political parties are considering the elections as crucial in the run up to the assembly elections, due early next year.

Candidates can submit their nominations for all the three phases of elections till October 6, while scrutiny of papers would be done on October 9. The nominations can be withdrawn on October 12.

On September 25, the State Election Commission had issued notification for urban local body polls after much delay following Allahabad High Court directive to hold elections at the earliest.

The state government had notified the elections on September 21.

Elections for the Nagar Palika Parishad would be held on October 28, for corporations on October 31 and for Nagar Panchayats on November 3.

Admitting there are still loopholes in the reservation policy to be adopted in elections, State Election Commissioner Aparmita Prasad Singh said the polls would be held under the new Local Bodies Act recently passed by the state legislature.

The urban local body polls was delayed for more than a year, pending litigation in Allahabad HC for the reservation of seats. The SEC said the election for Renukut Nagar Panchayat would be held on November 23 separately due to delayed provision in reservation.

Talking about the election model code of conduct, Mr Singh said all political parties and government functionaries would have to take persmission from the commission before holding any function.

However, the model code would not be effective in rural areas.

Asked if Mulayam Singh Yadav government's decision to distribute free sarees, unemplopyment allowances and Kanya Vidya Dhan would attract the model code of conduct, Mr Singh said everyone had to take prior permission from the commission for holding such events.

As per the SEC, about 10 million voters would exercise franchise in 12 corporations (Nagar Nigam) to elect 980 ward members.

In Nagar Palika Parishad, 5,102 ward members would be elected by 10.3 million voters in 193 parishads. Similarly, a 4.4 million electorate would elect 5,128 ward members of 420 nagar panchayats.

Elections have been suspended at the Nagar Palika Parishad Bagharmau in Unnao district and Nagar Panchayat Subeha in Barabanki district following the HC's directive.

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