Vizianagaram Chairman poll can be held without quorum: EC

Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, Feb 1 (UNI) The State Election Commission today announced that the election for the post of Vizianagaram Zilla Parishad Chairman, which was postponed twice earlier due to serious differences between two senior cabinet ministers, could be held even if there was no quorum.

State Election Commissioner Mr A V S Reddy said the election could be conducted on February 5 or 6, 2007, if the candidate, his proposer and seconder were present.

Additional Election Commissioner K S N Murty told UNI that there was a rule to overcome such a situation and hold the election. If the contesting candidate, his supporter and the seconder were present, Chairman's election could take place on February 5, with or without quorum. If the election could not be held on that day, it could be held the next day.

The post of the Chairperson fell vacant due to the resignation of Botsa Jhansi, wife of Marketing Minister Botsa Satyanarayana, after being elected to the Lok Sabha.

When Mr Satyanarayana wanted his brother Appala Narasaiah to contest the post, Forest Minister Satrucharla Vijayarama Raju objected to it on the grounds that Botsa's family members held a cabinet post, a Lok Sabha Post and also the ZP Chairman post.

The election, which was scheduled for January 24, was postponed after supporters of Mr Raju abstained from the meeting. The next day, Marketing Minister's supporters abstained from the meeting, forcing another postponement.

UNI