UP govt sweats over civic poll timing as governor sits on bill

Uttar Pradesh Governor BL Joshi has created a dilemma for the state government over the timing of civic polls by not taking a decision on a bill that seeks introduction of indirect mayoral elections.

Uttar Pradesh Governor BL Joshi has created a dilemma for the state government over the timing of civic polls by not taking a decision on a bill that seeks introduction of indirect mayoral elections.

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The Mayawati government is said to be in favour of early civic polls because it wants to focus on preparations for the assembly polls in 2012. Moreover, the government wants indirect polls this time as it hopes the experiment will help create favourable conditions for the assembly polls.

The BSP government is also worried that it cannot seek to defer the civil polls beyond schedule to wait for the governor’s nod, unlike in the case of panchayat polls.

A state election commission official said the government had to hold the civic polls in November, the scheduled time, or six months prior to it.