Govt urges SEC to postpone Local Body polls

Bangalore, Aug 6 (UNI) The Karnataka government has urged the State Election Commission (SEC) 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 told both the Houses of the Legislature today.

Replying to a discussion on the announcement of 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 is sufferring due to heavy rains and political parties are 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 there was no difference of opinion between the coalition partners JD(S) and BJP in holding the elections and it was committed to hold elections on time.

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

The members questioned the decision of the EC on holding elections during rainy season and asked the government to convince it in postponing it by another two months.

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

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

Admitting that the people of the state were in distress due to rain and its consequences, Mr Patil demanded that the coalition government resign, owing moral responsibility for the present situation.

UNI