Direct polls to local bodies demanded
- AP PRC general body meet passes several resolutions
- 15th Finance Commission should look into the issue of devolution of funds to local bodies: Rajendra Prasad
- The Chamber asks State govt to appoint immediate past Sarpanches as person in-charges till polls are held
Tirupati: AP Panchayat Raj Chamber President YVB Rajendra Prasad has said that the Chamber has passed a resolution demanding direct elections to the posts of Mandal Parishad Presidents, ZP Chairpersons, Municipal Chairmen and Mayors.
He said that the state government should make amendments in Panchayat Raj (PR) Act. Speaking to the media here on Saturday on the occasion of general body meeting of the PR chamber, he said that another resolution was passed urging the state government to conduct Panchayat Raj polls as per High Court of Hyderabad directions and asked the government to give clarity on this issue.
Till elections are held, immediate past Sarpanches should be appointed as person-in charges.
Rajendra Prasad demanded that the 15th Finance Commission should look into devolution of funds to local bodies and criticised the commission for not inviting the representatives of the chamber to for discussions when panel visited Amaravati recently.
The 14th Finance Commission has not allotted any funds to MPTC and ZPTC members due to which they have remained ornamental. “We will go to New Delhi soon to represent the Finance Commission and Central government in this regard,” he added.
He has further requested the state government to allot land in Amaravati for the AP PR chambers to construct its office as the erstwhile office in the combined state of Andhra Pradesh went to Telangana after bifurcation.
The Chamber also passed a resolution demanding the state government to transfer 29 items to local bodies mentioned in 11th schedule of Article 243G in 73 and 74 Constitutional Amendment.
They sought representation to the Chamber in the state Finance Commission. They wanted to strengthen the PR Chamber by appointing committees at district level and also to take up various activities forward.
AP PR Chamber General Secretary D Prathap Reddy, Vice-President S Subbaramaiah, MPPs Association State President Y Vinod Raju, ZPTCs Association state President A Ramakrishna, MPTCs Association state President K Murali, General Secretary D Prasad, Special invitee and Telangana PR Chamber Vice-President A Babaiah and representatives from all 13 districts took part in the meeting.