Hold civic polls to revive democracy at grassroot level

: CPI today demanded that the e new Congress government in Puducherry take steps to hold civic polls immediately to revive democracy at the grassroot level.
CPI's local unit secretary R Viswanathan told reporters its State level committee meeting here yesterday noted with concern the delay in holding the polls, due for the last five years.
A resolution adopted at the meeting said want of elected civic bodies had been a major hindrance in getting Central funds and also sought inclusion of Puducherry in the list of 'smart cities' planned by the Centre.
In other resolutions, the party urged the government to approach the Centre to get waiver of accumulated loans from Puducherry to the Centre and also interest due for the loans.

Viswanathan said CPI would soon submit a detailed report to the Chief Minister and Lt Goverrnor to urge them to jointly approach the Centre for waiver of loans and also for procuring the Centre's nod to various developmental schemes.
The CPI leader alleged that failure of the previous AINRC government to measure up to people's expectations had led to its defeat in the May 16 Assembly polls.

Viswanathan demanded that the NDA government scrap 'National Eligibility and Entrance Test' (NEET) for admission to medical colleges in the country as a whole instead of scrapping the examination just for a year only.

He said the Speaker's reported participation in a meeting organised by ruling Congresshere yesterday was a clear case of violation of convention and should be discouraged.
As there was a statutory provision facilitating a non member of the Assembly to become CM, one cannot register any protest against Narayanasamy, a non member of the House, holding the reins of the government as Chief Minister here.