Supreme Court orders delay in Andhra Pradesh urban election nominations after YSRCP alleges violence

Supreme Court said the YSR Congress Party had shown a prima facie case and ordered the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission to hold off publishing the final list of urban local body candidates until Oct 25. The court asked the commission to review the party’s claims, including video and other electronic proof, and to decide by Oct 22 whether to extend the nomination deadline where candidates could not file. Any extension must add at least 48 hours to the new deadline, which will be announced by amending the election notice. The Director General of Police was told to boost security, keep CCTV records and send a compliance report to the court. The commission must also issue orders that calm the concerns of the petitioners and allow nominations at district headquarters. The YSRCP, headed by former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, said its candidates faced attacks and were blocked from reaching nomination centres during the filing window that ran from Oct 16 to Oct 18. The party’s general secretary Lella Appireddy filed the plea through lawyer Mahfooz Ahsan Nazki, asking for police protection, extra nomination centres and more time. The High Court had earlier rejected a similar request, saying the deadline had passed and changing it would interfere with the election. ## Context The dispute highlights how court intervention can affect local election timelines when parties claim intimidation, and shows the role of police and election officials in ensuring a fair filing process.