The state government is said to be in a dilemma over holding municipal elections in the wake of the recent bypoll debacle.
For more than a year, over 90 percent of urban local bodies are being run by special officers, and as a result denied any Central funding or even grants under JNNURM.
Following a petition in March, 2012, the Andhra Pradesh High Court directed the government to conduct municipal elections, to which the state contended that it cannot do so until 2011 Census figures are published so that reservation for SCs and STs can be done as per the latest population data.
Going by 2001 Census might deprive the disadvantaged sections of their legitimate opportunities, the government said.
The High Court asked the government to hold the elect ions wi thin four months of publishing the latest Census data.
However, in April, the chief minister held a meeting with his Cabinet colleagues and decided to file an affidavit in the High Court for conducting the elections as per 2001 Census as the delay is depriving Central funds for civic bodies.
Legal opinion was sought from the advocate-general on the issue.
Officials say they are yet to get the advice they sought from the AG and once it comes, as per the advise, an affidavit would be filed in the High Court and the government can proceed further as per the court directions.
However, according to sources, the real reason for the delay in filling the affidavit till now was that the Congress party wanted to see the outcome of byelections.
Now that the results are out and the ruling party got a drubbing, the question is will the government still go ahead and hold elections? The government's mind will be known only after ensuing Cabinet meeting scheduled for June 29.
If it decides to hold the elections, it has to do so based on the population figures of 2001 since 2011 Census figures could take six months to one year to be available.
However, this will create problems as there has been an upgrading of several local bodies since 2001.
Further, with regard to reservation for women, it has to follow the latest 50 percent reservation level, instead of the 33 percent reservation as existed in 2001.
The state Election Commission says it is ready to hold the elections within 60 days after government furnishing details of delimitation and reservation.
What would happen if the government decides against holding municipal elections now? Development programmes, including maintenance of basic infrastructure, in most of the civic bodies will be affected.
As most of them suffer from paucity of funds, if there is further delay in holding the elections, they will not be in a position to take up even repairs to roads and drainage system, leave alone taking up any new development initiative.
Can the government continue with the special officers regime in urban local bodies for long? Yes, it can do so for 10 years as per the law, by issuing fresh orders every six months
