BJP against holding civic polls with discrepancies

Chennai: The BJP has objected to holding the local bodies elections with the existing discrepancies in voter ID cards and has demanded a clear cut reservation for women. Although the party hailed the Madras high court verdict directing the state election commission to conduct the elections before November 18, it wanted justice to people and parties.

Pointing out that her BJP has been demanding the conduct of the local bodies polls,  party president Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan said the party had even staged agitations in support of its demand because only the civic bodies could ensure the basic administration taking the governance to the doorsteps of the people. "For about eight months the civic bodies have been functioning without elected heads and are being run by the officials.

This will not create a conducive situation to provide good governance to the people," she said on Monday.

"It is a healthy judgment (to have the local bodies elections) but the elections should be held after addressing the reasons for postponing the polls.

The discrepancies in voters' ID cards and ensuring reservation policy, particularly quota for women need to be tackled first. Only then there will be justice to waiting for so long," Dr Tamilisai said. Also, the local bodies elections should be held in a free and fair manner, she said and added that her party was prepared to face the polls anytime.