The Hindu 19.08.2010
Civic body elections on non-party basis favoured
Staff Reporter
| This is to avoid politics in development: Dharmana |
— Photo: Basheer 
In full flow:Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao formally inaugurating a public tap at old housing board colony in Srikakulam on Wednesday.
SRIKAKULAM: Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao favours conduct of municipal elections on non-party basis to avoid politics in development at the grassroots level.
“Parties ruling the municipalities may not be keen on developing wards that are represented by opposition parties,” he said while addressing a public meeting after inaugurating a reservoir at housing board colony on Wednesday.
The Minister’s statement assumed significance as the government was contemplating conducting the election on non-party basis this time. The existing elected bodies would be in office till September 30. The government should conduct elections within six months.
The Minister claimed to have given equal importance to all wards in developmental activity.
“Public representatives should treat all the wards equally. Otherwise, growth will be hampered. We have allocated more funds even to wards represented by the Telugu Desam,” Mr. Prasada Rao said. “It is always better to conduct municipal elections on non-party basis so that politics will not hamper development. Funds will also be distributed equally depending on the requirement and works,” he said.
Stone laid
Earlier, he laid the foundation stone for laying of new roads in various wards. The Minister said that funds were readily available for road restoration works. Srikakulam Municipal Chairperson M.V. Padmavati said the the local body had taken up various projects to meet the future needs of the town.
