Revision as of 11:12, 9 October 2020

Godavari’s importance

2014

The party with the highest seats in the Godavari belt has always formed the government in Andhra.
From: Syed Akbar, April 6, 2019: The Times of India

See graphic:

The party with the highest seats in the Godavari belt has always formed the government in Andhra.

2018

‘Sarpa shanti yagna’ after spate of snake bites

U Sudhakarreddy, AP to conduct ‘sarpa shanti yagna’ after spate of snake bites, August 27, 2018: The Times of India

With two dead and 100 villagers in hospital after suffering snake bites in Diviseema of Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh, the state endowments department is making arrangements for conducting ‘sarpa shanti yagna’ (ritual to appease the snake God) at Sri Subrahmanyeswara Swamy Temple in Mopidevi on August 29.

Apart from supplying anti-venom and snake repellent chemicals and launching campaigns on how to avoid snake bites, the Krishna district authorities have decided to invoke the divine as part of ‘psychosocial care’ in fearstricken coastal Diviseema.

Speaking to TOI, Krishna district collector and magistrate B Lakshmikantham said, “Locals along with endowments department are conducting a ‘sarpa yagam’. This will boost the morale of locals”. The district collector said, “So far one died at Avanigadda and another at Gannavaram. And around 100 cases of snake bites have been reported since July. Now, with steps in place, cases are coming down.”

Assistant commissioner of endowments department and executive officer of Sri Subrahmanyeswara Swamy temple M Sharada told TOI, “At least 15 priests will conduct the government-sponsored homam. Sarpa Suktam will be recited.” The district administration deployed two snake catchers for each village and in two days, they caught six snakes. Revenue, forest and agriculture department officers were roped in. Lakshmikantham said, “We are also giving Rs 2000 to each affected family.”

Friend of Snakes Society general secretary Avinash Viswanathan said, “It’s not rational to do ‘sarpa shanti homam’. The problem can be solved by taking precautionary measures.”

2019

Why TDP & Congress are ‘frenemies’ in AP, Delhi

Subodh Ghildiyal, Why TDP & Congress are ‘frenemies’ in AP, Delhi, February 13, 2019: The Times of India

Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s visit to TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu’s protest after the two parties decided against an alliance in the southern state underlines the curious case of political cooperation between arch-foesturned-close-partners.

From its roots in anti-Congressism, Naidu reversed gears to join hands with Congress in Telangana elections in December with the understanding of extending the partnership to AP. But the brief dalliance has ended up in divorce. Sources said Naidu was jolted by TRS’s sweep in Telangana where CM K Chandrasekhara Rao went after his “anti-statehood” image. Naidu was part of the Congress-led “mahakutumi”.

The Telangana results are learnt to have put doubts in the TDP chief’s mind about allying with Congress which bifurcated Andhra Pradesh . The popular anger against division of state wiped Congress out of existence in 2014. It remains a marginal player five years on.

If rival YSR Congress was to focus on Naidu tying up with “villain” Congress, it could hurt the TDP.It was on Naidu’s suggestion that the two parties decided against a pact for simultaneous polls to AP assembly and Lok Sabha. The Congress failure to tie up with TDP has resulted in former Union minister Kishore Chandra Deo quitting the party.

However, as far as nuances go, the TDP-Congress dalliance appears too blunt together under the flashlights in the national capital even as they stay apart in Andhra.

2020

April 2020: V. Kanagaraj, appointed as the State Election Commissioner (SEC)

April 14, 2020: The Hindu

STATE ELECTION COMMISSIONER

Madras High Court retired judge V. Kanagaraj has been appointed as the State Election Commissioner (SEC) of Andhra Pradesh following the overnight expulsion of N. Ramesh Kumar through the ordinance route.

The government issued ordinance facilitating the appointment of a retired judge of High Court as SEC for three years and immediate removal of the incumbent Mr. Ramesh Kumar.
The former SEC had postponed the local body polls citing the COVID-19 outbreak, which is said to be the reason for ordinance.

Highlights of the issue:

1.It limited the tenure of SEC to three years by making an amendment to Panchayat Raj (PR) Act, 1994 for conducting elections to PR institutions.


2.It was stated that an SEC will be entitled to re- appointment for another three years subject to a maximum aggregate period of six years.


3. The ordinance mentioned that the SEC cannot be removed except in the manner and on the grounds as a judge of the HC and the conditions of service will not be varied to his or her disadvantage.

Aparmita Prasad Singh vs State of UP (2007)

The Allahabad HC ruled that the cessation of tenure does not amount to removal, and upheld the State Election Commissioner’s term being cut short.


The judgement seems erroneous, as it gives a carte Blanche to the State government to remove an inconvenient election authority by merely changing the tenure or retirement age.

Article 324

The Constitution provides Election Commission of India with the power of direction, superintendence, and control of elections to parliament, state legislatures, the office of president of India and the office of vice-president of India.


The Election Commission is an all-India body that is common to both the Central government and the State governments. It must be noted here that the commission does not deal with the elections to the Municipalities and Panchayats in the states. Hence, a separate State Election Commission is provided by the Constitution of India.

About the State Election Commissioner


Articles 243K, 243ZA: The Constitution of India vests in the State Election Commission, consisting of a State Election Commissioner, the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of all elections to the Panchayats and the Municipalities. The State Election Commissioner is appointed by the Governor.
Article 243(C3): The Governor, when so requested by the State Election Commission, make available to the State Election Commission such staff as may be necessary for the discharge of the functions conferred on the SEC by clause (1).