The existing term of the special officers in the zilla parishads, as well as mandal parishads, arrives at a halt on Sunday and Monday. Now, this term of the special officers will continue till the third and fourth of July or till the time the local body elections will be held. Based on which is earlier, this term will continue.
On Friday, the government of Andhra Pradesh increased the terms of the special officers belonging to the local bodies. This term has been increased by at least six months. This has been based on two individual orders with respect to the same. It should be noted that these terms were supposed to stop on Sunday and Monday.
More on Local Body Elections and Term Extension
According to Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar, the State Election Commissioner, in the month of February, the elections to the local bodies will be observed. Such a move has been opposed by the government. The government has also said that due to the vaccination programme of COVID-19, the complete official machinery is expected to remain occupied.
The High Court will have the ultimate authority to determine the elections’ schedule. Further, a committee of three members will be constituted for discussing the schedule of the poll.
As a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic, the election process was obstructed. Since March, the government and Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar have remained at loggerheads with respect to conducting the local elections.
Mr. Kumar has been accused by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, for holding the process of election in conflict with the TDP or Telugu Desam Party. According to him, Mr. Kumar has attempted to benefit the Telugu Desam Party. This can be due to Mr. Kumar belonging to the N Chandrababu Naidu community.
Conclusion
In the mandal parishads, as well as the zilla parishads, the special officers’ existing term has been extended which was to end otherwise on Sunday and Monday. It is also expected that in February, the local body elections will be held.