VISAKHAPATNAM: Repolling in the Visakha-I Assembly constituency by-election was postponed due to the total failure of the Government, charged the Telugu Desam party here on Friday.

``This Government cannot even conduct a by-election. It is yet to suggest the name of a suitable official to the Central Election Commission to be appointed as State Election Commissioner. This should be done immediately and former Collector Praveen Prakash should be given stringent punishment as suggested by the Election Commission,'' said the TDP State vice-president M.V.V.S. Murthi at a press conference.

`Official apathy'

The State Government did not consult the officials concerned before asking CEC to postpone the re-polling to a date after the SSC examinations. Had the full-time State Election Commissioner been in place the official could have suggested a convenient date for re-polling, the TDP leader felt.

He blamed the Government for the spread of viral fevers in the city and poor sanitation, for not taking up the projects it announced for the city, delay in execution of Godavari water diversion scheme and not able to secure railway projects from the Centre. He also demanded the Government not to go ahead with bauxite mining, as it would destroy the agency area and also eliminate the city's water supply sources.

When pointed out that the TDP was also accused of distributing money during the by-election, Dr. Murthi said that the case was under investigation by the police and wrong doers would be punished if they were found guilty.

President of the rural wing of TDP and former Minister Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy regretted that the Minister for Commercial Taxes Konathala Ramakrishna could find time to inaugurate a bullion showroom but not to call on the viral fever patients. The code of conduct would not have prevented the Minister from doing so, he said.

Strong denial

The TDP leader strongly denied allegations made by the Congress that he violated the election code by using the premises of a Government office in Gavarapalem village for a party meeting. He displayed photographs of the meeting and a map of the village, which he claimed had clearly shown that the meeting was not held in the premises of a Government office. He would send the evidence to the CEC.

Party candidate for the by-election S.A. Rehman said the viral fevers were rampant in the old city area and the Municipal Corporation and King George Hospital were alerted by the TDP workers.

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