Chandigarh, December 22
The elections to 87 civic bodies scheduled for January 23 next have been postponed and the same will now be held in March along with the remaining eight municipalities not later than March 15 next.

The Local Government Department today withdrew its earlier notification and has requested the state Election Commissioner, Mr C.L. Bains, to issue a fresh notification, as per the revised decision of the government.

The Director, Local Government, Mr B R Banga, told TNS that the term of 87 civic bodies that were to go to the polls in January was to expire in April-end. The terms of remaining eight municipalities were to end between May and August, 2003. Since it would have been a long process, which meant no transfers, no release of grants as per the code of conduct, the government thought it prudent to withdraw its earlier notification and to hold the elections to all 95 civic bodies either on a single day or in one short duration.

Among the reasons listed for this change of strategy are that the prolonged schedule would have put stress on the law and order machinery, and stopped development works etc. Moreover, it is stipulated in the Constitution that these elections must be held before the expiry of the five-year term.