YSRCP never fears elections, says party MLA Vardhan

Amaravati, Nov 19 (IANS) The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) never fears elections, said a party leader on Wednesday at a time when the State Election Commissioner (SEC) is eager to conduct elections to the rural local bodies though the government is against it.

"YSRCP never fears elections and we do not even have that kind of a thought," said Vijayawada central MLA Malladi Vishnu Vardhan.

He also lashed out at State Election Commissioner (SEC) Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar for his eagerness to hold elections amid the Covid pandemic.

"What is the situation in the state? Why are you in such a hurry to go for the poll," he asked.

Vardhan castigated Kumar for saying that all parties are ready for the elections and said that he allegedly counted political parties without proper existence, voting percentage and legislative seats.

The Vijayawada central MLA said that all the key people needed for conducting the elections -- the police, revenue officials and teachers -- are scared of the pandemic and facing difficulties.

"How many policemen got infected? How many policemen died? In politics also, how many leaders, ministers and MLAs got infected and are facing difficulties," he asked.

He also told Kumar to wait for some more days as the government has to observe how the Covid second wave will pan out as it is important to keep public health in mind before conducting elections.

"But you (Kumar) are taking unilateral decisions and declaring dates and schedules. You are doing this to trouble the state government and to stop the ongoing development works. Chandrababu Naidu and the SEC have colluded and are plotting," Vardhan claimed.

He reminded the SEC that he had postponed the elections in March when there were 2-3 cases, but now he wants to conduct the polls when the state is reporting more than 1,000 cases each day.

The YSRCP leader's comments assume significance because SEC Kumar is preparing the grounds to conduct elections in February 2021.

On Tuesday, he wrote to the state government about his plans to hold elections and cited the example of Rajasthan, Bihar and the approaching Hyderabad civic body polls.

However, Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney replied that the time is not yet ripe for elections as the state is witnessing more than 1,000 Covid cases every day.

Incidentally, Kumar met Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan over the issue on Wednesday and expressed his displeasure, complaining that the state government is allegedly not cooperating with him to conduct the polls.

According to sources, the SEC is also weighing the option of approaching the court on the matter.