RR district ZP poll postponed for lack of quorum

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JULY 23. Elections to the posts of chairperson and vice-chairperson of the Ranga Reddy Zilla Parishad were postponed here on Monday due to lack of quorum. Making this announcement, the Collector, Mr. Ajay Jain, said that the elections would be held on Tuesday.

Cooption of members also could not take place due to the stalemate. The problem arose as there was `no quorum' for both the main contenders, the TDP and the Congress-I. The TDP has 14 ZPTCs' and with the help the two BJP members its strength could be 16 while the Congress-I with 15 ZPTCs and with the support of one CPI (M) member and one TRS member was planning to secure the two key posts in the district.

However, as one of the members Mr. K. Bhaskar of Moinabad could not turn up at the venue by the deadline for the election of coopted members. The Congress-I leaders, Ms. Sabita Indra Reddy, MLA from Chevella, and former Minister, Mr. K. Ram Reddy, later addressing a press conference at the Zilla Parishat premises itself accused the TDP, particularly the Home Minister and the Chief Minister of engineering the `kidnap' of its candidate with ulterior motives. They demanded that the candidate be released at once to facilitate the democratic process.

However, denying their claim, the BJP floor leader, Mr. N. Indrasena Reddy, and the TDP MLA from Parigi, Mr. Hareeswar Reddy, said their party did not resort to any kidnaps. There was no need for them to do so and if one of the Congress-I candidates did not turn up it was more their internal matter. The TDP-BJP members did not enter the election hall as they did not have quorum.

Meanwhile, there was tension outside the ZP building with hundreds of Congress workers raising slogans against the ruling party and the Congress members inside waiting for the missing candidate. The lone TRS candidate too was `under our protection' the Congress-I candidates said. They warned of an agitation if Mr. Bhaskar was not released and sent back to them.

Mr. Narasimha Rao, CPI(M) district committee leader, criticised the Congress accusing it of resorting to unfair means. If the stalemate continues the Collector would have to invoke special provisions to allow voting without a quorum.

Congress-I squabbles

The Congress-I MLA, Ms. Sabita Indra Reddy, was in for a shock this morning when she found that her choice for the vice- chairperson was not considered. A former Minister, Mr. K. Ram Reddy, deftly played his cards and bagged the `B' form in favour of his son, Mr. K. Srinivasa Reddy, and made him file nomination for the post. A bitter Ms. Sabita was helpless and was left with no choice but to support the candidature.

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Section  : Southern States
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