Govt urges EC to postpone polls to Urban local bodies

Bangalore, Aug 6 (UNI) The Karnataka government has urged the State Election Commission to postpone the August 30 elections to the Urban Local Bodies till September end due to rain and flood fury in the State, Minister for Home and Parliamentary Affairs M P Prakash informed the both houses of Legislature today.

Replying to a discussion on the announcement of the elections raised by the members, irrespective of party affiliations, he said that due to incessant rains the situation was not conducive to hold elections.

"The entire State was sufferring due to heavy rains and political parties were also not in favour of elections at this juncture," he said adding that it would appeal to the EC to reconsider its decision.

Mr Prakash said that there was no difference of opinion between the colation partners JD(S) and BJP in holding the elections and was committed to hold elections in time.

He also expressed his fear about the erruption of communal riots just before the elections as the Muslims have a festival on August 29, he said.

The members questioned about the decision of the Election Commission on holding elections during rainy season and asked the government to convince it in postoponing for another two months.

In the Council, the opposition Congress blamed the government for delay in holding the elections to the Urban Local Bodies.

Opposition Leader H K Patil said that the government had tried its best at every step to postpone the elections on one or the other reasons.

Admitting that the people of the State were in distress due to rain and its consequences, Mr Patil demanded the coalitition government to quit from power owing moral responsibility to the present situation.

UNI