AP postpones MPTC poll coinciding with Sonia visit

Hyderabad, Mar 11 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC)today postponed the election to the Shamsabad-I Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency(MPTC) with the poll process clashing with the inauguration of the International Airport by AICC President Sonia Gandhi on March 14.

The Commission took the decision based on a report submitted by the Ranga Reddy District Collector suggesting ''logistics and law and order problems,'' State Election Commission Secretary G M Rameshkumar told reporters.

The SEC issued notification on March 7 for the March 26 elections to 25 MPTCs and one ZPTC. The date for Shambasabad-I MPTC poll would be decided afresh, he added.

Meanwhile, a delegation of TDP leaders led by MLA D Umamaheswara Rao submitted a memorandum to the SEC, opposing the decision allegedly taken at the behest of the Congress Government to avoid violation of model code of conduct in force in Shamsabad by the inauguration of the International Airport.

''This is nothing but murder of democracy'' he claimed while talking to reporters later.

The Congress Government had turned the function into a party function by inviting its National President Sonia Gandhi and its State Acting President G S Rao, the TDP leader claimed.

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