The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission has announced the reopening of the nomination process in select wards of certain urban local bodies in compliance with directions from the Supreme Court.
The Commission has also permitted nominations to be received at district collectorates and postponed polling to November 1.
The decision provides partial relief to the YSR Congress Party, which had approached the Supreme Court alleging that its candidates were prevented from filing nominations during the municipal election process.
However, the party is said to be dissatisfied with the Commission’s latest orders, maintaining that several of its principal demands have not been addressed. The YSRCP is now considering further legal action.
The YSRCP had approached the Supreme Court seeking an opportunity to file fresh nominations in 19 municipalities and requesting protection for its candidates, alleging obstruction and difficulties during the nomination process.
The Supreme Court asked the State Election Commission to examine the party’s complaints and take an appropriate decision on reopening nominations.
Following an assessment of reports from the field, the Commission announced its decision to permit fresh nominations in specified wards of the Kadapa and Tirupati municipal corporations and the Mydukur and Rajampet municipalities.
Accordingly, the SEC announced that fresh nominations will be received in 11 wards in Kadapa Municipal Corporation, 11 wards in Rajampet Municipality, 18 wards in Tirupati Municipal Corporation and all 32 wards in Mydukur Municipality, where there were allegations that the TDP had prevented YSRCP candidates from filing nominations.
The Commission has also allowed nominations to be submitted at district collectorates, in addition to the arrangements specified for the election process. Polling has been rescheduled to November 1.
The YSRCP leadership is reviewing the Commission’s decision, with party president and former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy holding discussions with senior leaders on the next course of action.
The party’s principal objection is that the Commission has not reopened nominations for the chairperson posts in all 19 municipalities cited in its complaint.
YSRCP leaders are also questioning the absence of specific relief concerning Punganur and Darsi, which they say were among the issues requiring consideration.
The party maintains that permitting fresh nominations in selected wards does not fully address the alleged obstruction faced by its candidates during the original nomination process. It is examining the legal options available to challenge the limited scope of the Commission’s decision.
According to party sources, the leadership is consulting legal experts and is understood to be preparing for another round of litigation before the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the petition already filed in the matter on October 27. The Commission’s latest decision and the YSRCP’s objections are expected to remain central to the dispute.
Leaders of the ruling alliance, meanwhile, have pointed out that the Supreme Court left the decision on reopening nominations to the State Election Commission. They maintain that the Commission has acted on the basis of field-level reports and within the scope of the directions issued by the court.
