Anaparthi Regains Panchayat Status

RAJAHMUNDRY : In a curious case, Anaparthi, a major panchayat which was upgraded as a municipality on three earlier occasions, has again retained its original status. Thanks to an order passed by chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Anaparthi will continue to be a major panchayat.

In 2008, the then Congress government in the state upgraded Anaparthi as a municipality but the High Court directed the government to maintain the status quo basing on a writ petition filed by a group of people in the village.

Again in the year 2012, the government issued a GO turning Anaparthi into a municipality. But, the village panchayat passed a resolution against the order and approached the High Court which ruled that Anaparthi be treated as a panchayat.

On July 31 this year, the Election Commission (EC) issued a notification to hold elections in Anaparthi considering it as a municipality. However, in the last minute, the EC had stalled the elections as a case was pending in the High Court.

Then on, the natives of Anaparthi have been on horns of dilemma not knowing as to whether they are living in a panchayat or a municipality. The latest decision of the CM has capped the controversy.

Anaparthi has a population of above 35,000 and an electorate of about 28,000. It is one of the bustling trading centres in East Godavari district. According to MLA N Rama Krishna Reddy, the CM issued orders retaining the status to Anaparthi as a major panchayat after he conveyed to him the opinion of the majority people.