Govt. to strengthen village administration after local body polls: Panchayat Raj Chamber VP

SRIKAKULAM:

A.P. Panchayat Raj Chamber vice president and MARKFED Director Anepu Ramakrishna Naidu on Monday said that the Chandrababu Naidu government can further strengthen village administration after local body polls.

He hoped TDP and its alliance partners would win over 95% of seats in the next elections, alleging the previous YSRCP government ruined local governance by diverting funds sanctioned by the 15th Finance Commission.

Speaking to The Hindu in Srikakulam, he alleged that the previous Jagan Mohan Reddy government had diverted around ₹8,300 crore in funds allocated by the 15th Finance Commission for unproductive needs.

“The Centre is providing funds directly to panchayats to take up sanitation, internal roads, water facility, street light maintenance and others. However, the then YSRCP diverted funds in various routes without giving any scope to panchayats even to know about the allocated funds for their villages,” Mr. Naidu said.

“YSRCP won 80% of the Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies and Mandal Parishad Constituencies in 2019 local body polls by misusing its police and administrative authorities. Unfortunately, those ZPTC and MPTC members had no powers and no responsibilities. They have become puppets and followed the instructions of the then Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is ruining the local administration,” he said.

He said that people in villages were eagerly waiting to vote for TDP and its alliance parties in ensuing ZPTC, MPTC and other elections as they were fed up with YSRCP’s ZPTC and MPTC members. “Panchayat Raj Chamber members have been touring all villages to create awareness about the large-scale diversion of funds from panchayats during the YSRCP government. We are hopeful that TDP will win over 95% of the seats this time, and elected members will ensure administration in accordance with the provisions of the Indian Constitution, which laid a strong foundation for the Panchayati Raj system in the country.”