Ward delimitation: Govt mulls legislation

Thiruvananthapuram: The state government is devising plans to introduce a bill with regard increasing the number of wards in local self-government bodies. The government has got legal advice in the regard.

The government is planning to pass a bill in the Niyamasabha session scheduled to start on 31 January as the Governor is neither passing nor returning the ordinance issued in the regard. Even if the bill is passed, it can be a law only once the Governor puts his sign.

The government believes that the Governor will not refrain from signing the bill. It is assessed that nothing hinders the government from introducing a bill even if the Governor does not revert the ordinance. The Governor, who has locked horns with the government in the Citizenship Amendment Act, had indicated that he might not sign the ordinance. Thereafter he left to Delhi on Thursday.

The government was pressed into a crisis as the Governor is reluctant to sign in the ordinance though the preparations for the local polls are under way. Ramesh Chennithala, the opposition leader, also pleaded the Governor to not sign the ordinance. The Governor was apprised by the government twice in the regard and Minister AC Moideen had called upon him personally. Yet the Governor did not give in. The Governor had asked AC Moideen is it not enough if the government could pass it as a bill in the Assembly.

The Advocate General has advised the government that passing a bill would be better option in the scenario.

The Governor came strongly against the government on Thursday while commenting on Ward Delimitation Ordinance. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Chief Minister retorted openly against the Governor.

None in the government has dared to provoke the Governor beyond a limit. Minister A.K. Balan said that there are no issues between the Governor and the government.

Ramesh Chennithala says that the ward division may affect the Census processes and even the buildning number would change. In the letter to the Governor, Chennithala claimed that the move is in contravention of Census Law of 1948.

The government had apprised the Governor that such concerns are baselesss. In the second reply, the government made it clear that the building will not be given numbers until the census processes are completed.