AMARAVATI, October 22 (Aalimi Nation) – The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission has halted the election process in all 100 urban local bodies in the state, acting on directions issued by the Supreme Court a day earlier.
The order covers 13 municipal corporations and 87 municipalities and nagar panchayats. The commission said further electoral activity was stopped "forthwith" and that it would issue a further order on Thursday after receiving reports from district collectors, district election authorities and police officials.
Urban local body elections: what the court directed
According to the Supreme Court directions of October 21, the commission must postpone publication of the final list of candidates until October 25. The court also asked it to decide by October 22 whether to extend the deadline for filing nominations in areas where candidates could not file because of law-and-order problems.
In reaching that decision, the commission is to consider representations from the petitioning party and the candidates, along with the evidence they submit, including electronic material. Any extension must run for at least 48 hours from publication of the decision and must be made through an amended election notification.
State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha said a further order would follow on Thursday once the reports from the districts are received. That order is expected to address whether the last date for filing nominations will be extended.
Allegations of obstruction
The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) had alleged that violence and obstruction prevented many of its candidates from filing papers. The party said trouble began on October 16, the first day of nominations, in Punganur, Rayachoti, Kadapa and Tirupati. It alleged that a candidate's papers were snatched and torn in Kadapa and that candidates in Tirupati were assaulted and stopped from reaching nomination centres.
The party said nine candidates in Tirupati had filed affidavits supporting these claims. It had earlier sought postponement of the polls through court cases without relief and is now seeking more time for nominations. The allegations have not been adjudicated, and the commission has yet to rule on them.
Government response
The ruling Telugu Desam Party said it respects the court's directions. Party state president Palla Srinivasa Rao said the government would comply with the Supreme Court's orders. He argued that the decision on extending dates lies solely with the State Election Commission and that, as the party in government, it has no role in postponing the polls or changing dates.
Background and timeline
The commission issued the election notification for the urban local bodies on October 14. Nominations were received from October 16 to 18, and scrutiny of nomination papers took place on October 19. The final list of candidates would ordinarily have followed, which is why the court's direction to hold it back until October 25 effectively pauses the schedule.
The commission's order on Thursday will show whether nomination dates are reopened in the affected areas and, if so, for how long. Any extension must meet the court's 48-hour minimum, and the final candidate list cannot be published before October 25. A revised polling schedule is expected to be announced once the commission completes its review of the district reports and the evidence submitted by candidates.
