Hyderabad: The State government seeking more time from the High Court to hold Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections has come in for sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. BJP floor leader in Telangana State Legislative Assembly Dr K Laxman dared the State government to conduct civic body elections immediately if it had guts, and execute its constitutional obligation.

Speaking to the media at the Assembly media point here on Friday, Laxman alleged that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and his government were scared of conducting GHMC polls as they were very sure of losing them. “The inaction and the pleas of the government for extension of time clearly indicate this,” he opined. Stating that it was shame on the part of TRS government as it was not only reprimanded by the High Court for this inordinate and inexplicable delay, but it was also warned that if it does not have the intention to conduct the elections through the State Election Commission (SEC), the court would direct the Central Election Commission to conduct it.

Laxman said the TRS government asking for 246 days time to conduct the elections was sheer political opportunism. “May be they need time to lure more city-based leaders from other parties to strengthen themselves which is practically not possible. May be they should clearly state that reason,” he said.  The BJP senior leader said as per the 74th Amendment Act of 1992, the present government was in total violation of the constitutional provision to conduct elections six months prior to the expiry of the GHMC, which they have delayed for the last 10 months.

The GHMC’s term expired in December 2014, and it was already four months and the government had not even declared its action plan for ward demarcation. “The intentions of the government are very clear to delay the elections. They are not in a position to win, which is clearly indicated in the recent Graduate MLC elections,” he added.

Meanwhile, the TPCC Vice President Mohd Ali Shabbir said the State government should announce schedule without further delay. He said it was unfortunate that the government was rapped by the High Court on more than three occasions over GHMC polls and added that the TRS leaders were yet to learn and understand how the administration was to be run. He claimed that Congress party was ready to face the elections and expressed confidence that people would definitely vote for them.