Thiruvananthapuram, Wednesday, August 18, 2010: Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy today severely criticized the LDF government for delaying the panchayat polls. Chandy informed that delay in the panchayat polls clearly shows the incapability of the State government.

The State government had earlier informed the Election Commission on their willingness to conduct the local body polls in single phase. The message was passed in a letter forwarded to the EC by SM Vijayanand, principal secretary, local bodies. The EC had earlier informed the government of the consensus reached in the all-party meeting for conducting polls in single phase.

The government informed that the elections could be conducted so that the new governing bodies could assume office on November 1.