The Supreme Court has directed the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission to extend the deadline for filing nominations for local body polls until October 25, following allegations of obstruction by ruling party supporters.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ordered the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (APSEC) to defer the publication of the final list of candidates contesting the local body polls in the state until October 25. This decision was made following allegations by the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) that the ruling Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) cadre and supporters had obstructed its candidates from filing nominations.
According to Bar and Bench, a bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana directed APSEC to look into the allegations made by YSRCP candidates and extend the deadline for filing nominations wherever it finds that a candidate was unable to do so due to a law and order situation.
The ruling comes after the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP moved the Supreme Court on Monday, alleging that violence and intimidation had prevented several of its candidates from filing nominations. During the hearing on Wednesday, the party’s counsel told the court that 63.5% of its candidates were not allowed to submit nominations in 19 of the urban local bodies.
In its petition, the YSRCP had alleged that its candidate’s nomination papers were snatched and torn at Kadapa. In Tirupati, the party alleged, the candidate was prevented from reaching nomination centres. Nine candidates from Tirupati also filed affidavits saying they had been obstructed from filing their nominations.
On October 10, the party moved the Andhra Pradesh High Court, seeking to secure additional nomination centres. A single-judge bench had dismissed the plea on October 15. Subsequently, it moved the High Court seeking that the deadline to file nominations be extended. On Sunday, the court rejected the plea, stating that any direction would amount to interference with the election process.
The election to 100 urban local bodies in Andhra Pradesh is scheduled to be held on October 28. Votes will be counted on October 30. Subsequently, the Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency elections are scheduled for November 3, with counting on November 5. Gram Panchayat elections will be held on November 26, November 29 and December 2.
Source:
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