Amaravati, Oct 22 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha on Thursday extended the nomination procedure in four Urban Local Bodies by 48 hours on October 23 and 24 in compliance with the Supreme Court orders.
Punetha extended the nomination phase for three Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Kadapa district and one in Tirupati district, which include Kadapa Municipal Corporation, Rajampet Municipality, Mydukuru Municipality and Tirupati Municipal Corporation respectively.
“The State Election Commission, in compliance with the orders dt (dated) October 21 of the Hon’ble Supreme Court … hereby, order to extend the nomination process in 4 Urban Local Bodies … for 48 hours … on October 23 and October 24 from 11 am to 3 pm…,” said Punetha in a statement.
The State Election Commissioner’s (SEC) order comes in the wake of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) filing a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court, challenging the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s October 18 order refusing to extend the nomination deadline, which ended on the same day.
The party brought to the notice of the Supreme Court the alleged violent incidents that took place in Punganur, Rayachoti, Kadapa and Tirupati during the nomination process, and alleged that YSRCP candidates were attacked, threatened and prevented from reaching the nomination centres.
YSRCP requested the Supreme Court to direct the authorities to provide adequate police protection to candidates and ensure that they can file their nominations “without fear.”
Consequently, the apex court ordered the commission to postpone the publication of the final list of candidates till October 25.
Punetha was directed to consider the representations made by YSRCP and various candidates.
The Supreme Court also ordered the commission to consider evidentiary material as well as electronic evidence placed before it to take a decision to extend the last date of filing nominations in the ULBs, wherever it is of the view that candidates were unable to file their nominations due to the law and order situation.
The SEC was also directed to give a 48-hour window from the time of publishing its decision by amending the election notification for the aggrieved candidates to file their nominations.
In accordance with the Supreme Court orders, Punetha observed that “in certain Urban Local Bodies, some candidates, who were willing to contest, have been intimidated or attacked or their nomination papers were torn or by any adversarial circumstance prevented such candidates from filing nominations.”
“The State Election Commission has also observed that those incidents have occurred in four Urban Local Bodies and decided to provide them an opportunity to file nominations and to take appropriate steps to ensure that they are not deprived of their opportunity to contest the ULB Elections,” said Punetha.
Further, the SEC also issued a revised schedule from the stage of publication of the final list of contesting candidates for all 100 ULBs, including the four ULBs for which the nomination process has been extended.
As per the revised schedule, the final list of candidates will be published on October 25; followed by the election on November 1 from 7 am to 5 pm; the date of re-poll, if required, on November 2; and the counting of votes on November 3. PTI STH RUK
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