Leaders of various political parties accused that during its five years of government, the YCP has turned the existence of local bodies into a question. Participating at a round-table meeting held by Jana Chaitanya Vedika in Guntur, they stressed the need for empowerment of local bodies for the strengthening of democracy and people participation in governance.
Jana Sena district president Gade Venkateswara Rao said that the YSRCP government has abrogated the powers and rights of Gram Panchayats. He alleged that the previous government would not create a situation where the ministers and MLAs had to tie their hands to the serpents even though the constitution gave autonomy to the local bodies.
He recalled that Jana Sena chief and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan asserted that this government is working to bring a sea change in the functioning of local governance. As a part of that, he said, funds were allocated and gram sabhas were organized.
President of Amaravati Bahujan JAC, Potula Balakotaiah said that the constitution included the provisions related to the administration of central and state governments as well as local bodies, but the previous government trampled them. He said that without the development of Gram Panchayats, progress of the state and the country is not possible in a democracy.
Pradesh Congress Executive President Dr N. Tulsi Reddy said that everyone should recognize the fact that gram panchayats are not local bodies but local governments formed by the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendment. He congratulated the coalition government for giving back priority to Gram Panchayats. Tulsi Reddy stated that Sarpanch is a constitutional right for panchayats.
Former Minister Dokka Manikya Varaprasad welcomed the organization of gram sabhas by allocating funds. He suggested bringing the village secretariats under the panchayats. He opined that progress of the state is possible only when Gram Panchayats are developed.
Dokka said that holding all the elections at once would reduce the cost and reducing the term of office from five years to four years would lead to better results from the rulers. Jana Chaitanya Vedika president V Lakshman Reddy presided.