Govt. urged to hold civic polls

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, JUNE 12. Mr. V. Narayanaswamy, PCC leader, today urged the Congress-led coalition here to hold civic polls in the Union Territory within six months as was promised in the party's Assembly election manifesto.

Addressing newspersons here, Mr. Narayanaswamy said the State Election Commission should update the voter list and should not go by the ones prepared in 1998. There was increase in voter strength and those eligible to vote as on July 1 this year should not be denied an opportunity to vote. Mr. Narayanaswamy said he had written to the SEC seeking an all-party meeting to discuss and decide reservation of wards for BCs, SCs and women and also the rotation system by which it should be adopted.

The PCC leader said the time now given for voters to seek inclusion in the list or register objections was not sufficient. The June 15 time limit should be extended for a month.

The Karikalambakkam unit of the CPI(ML) of Pondicherry today called upon the administration to notify civic polls without delay. A resolution to this effect was taken at a meeting of the party.

Mr. G.A. Jagannathan, secretary, said the bridge linking Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu villages across the Malattar in Karikalambakkam was a shambles. The bridge was constructed in 1921 and it should be widened to accommodate the current volume of traffic. House site pattas to residents of Karikalambakkam must be made available, demanded another resolution.

Some of the other demands included installation of high-powered transformers in rural areas, desilting of tanks and other irrigation sources, prevention of sand quarrying from the Malattar river bed and implementation of food for work scheme.

Mr. S. Balasubramanian, secretary of the State committee of the party, Mr. S. Namachivayam, Mr. A. Ilangovan, Mr. V. Sekar and Mr. Selvakumar, all functionaries, spoke.

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Section  : Southern States
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