YSRCP Welcomes Supreme Court Order on Andhra Pradesh Local Body Polls

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the State Election Commission in Andhra Pradesh to delay the publication of the final list of candidates until October 25. The apex court noted that the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party had made a strong initial case in its petition requesting more time to file nominations for urban local body elections. Addressing a press conference at the party office in Tadepalli, YSRCP State coordinator Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy welcomed the court order. However, he alleged that opposition candidates still faced attacks, police-assisted detentions, house arrests, threats, and the destruction of nomination papers despite judicial intervention. He stated that 76 such incidents were reported across 11 districts on Wednesday and that the party plans to inform the Supreme Court about them. Mr. Ramakrishna Reddy urged the State Election Commission to take action against officials accused of favoring the Telugu Desam Party. He called on the commission to collect reports from District Collectors and Superintendents of Police while setting up CCTV surveillance at all nomination centers. He added that opposition candidates faced pressure to withdraw, threats of false cases, and obstruction during scrutiny, which forced the party to approach the judiciary. Other YSRCP leaders also raised concerns during the media briefing and meetings. MLC Lella Appi Reddy reported ongoing irregularities in ZPTC and MPTC nomination processes, noting that injured candidates were hospitalized after incidents in Kadapa and Madanapalle. Former MLA T.J.R. Sudhakar Babu stated that party candidates could not file nominations in 459 out of 722 wards across 19 urban local bodies, pointing to problems in Piduguralla, Gurazala, Punganur, Rayachoti, and Dachepalli. He demanded that the Chief Minister take moral responsibility and called for the resignation of the Director-General of Police and the Home Minister. Additionally, former Minister Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy and MP Peddireddi Midhun Reddy alleged that authorities filed cases against YSRCP leaders while sparing those responsible for the violence.

Context

Local body elections in India are conducted by independent State Election Commissions to elect representatives to rural and urban local government bodies. These grassroots polls often see intense political contestation at the local level between rival state parties. Courts routinely intervene in election schedules when disputes arise over nomination procedures and fairness.