The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) to consider a representation by the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) seeking an extension of the deadline for filing nominations for the upcoming urban local body elections.
The party has alleged that violence, intimidation and obstruction prevented several of its candidates from submitting nomination papers within the prescribed period. It has sought additional time to enable those candidates to contest the elections.
The development comes after the Andhra Pradesh High Court refused to direct the SEC to extend the nomination deadline, holding that reopening the nomination process after the prescribed cut-off could interfere with the ongoing electoral schedule.
The Supreme Court was approached by the YSRCP challenging the High Court’s October 18 order. The party has alleged that its candidates faced violence at multiple locations, including Punganur, Rayachoti, Kadapa and Tirupati, during the nomination period.
According to the petition, a candidate’s nomination papers were allegedly snatched and torn in Kadapa, while nine candidates contesting the Tirupati municipal elections were prevented from entering the offices of the concerned Returning Officers. The party has also referred to an alleged attack on the convoy of its MP P V Midhun Reddy while he was accompanying candidates to file their nominations.
The YSRCP had initially approached the High Court seeking additional nomination centres and arrangements to facilitate the filing of nomination papers. On October 15, a single judge declined to grant the broad relief sought but allowed individual candidates to approach the concerned election officers with their grievances.
The party subsequently sought an extension of the nomination deadline from the SEC. Although the Commission directed that adequate security be provided at nomination centres, it did not extend the deadline, according to the petition.
The party has argued before the Supreme Court that judicial restraint in election matters cannot be invoked to deny relief when candidates are allegedly prevented from participating in the democratic process through force or intimidation. It has contended that the expiry of the nomination deadline should not, by itself, defeat its plea when the alleged obstruction was the reason candidates could not submit their papers.
Apart from seeking an extension of the nomination period, the YSRCP has requested police protection for its candidates and the establishment of additional or alternative nomination centres. It has also sought a direction permitting candidates who were allegedly prevented from filing nominations to submit their papers during the extended period.
The party has further sought a stay on declarations of candidates as elected unopposed in the affected wards until the Supreme Court considers its requests.
The Andhra Pradesh urban local body elections are scheduled for October 28, with counting due on October 30. The nomination deadline expired on October 18.
The Supreme Court’s direction leaves the question of extending the deadline for the State Election Commission to consider, against the backdrop of the party’s allegations of electoral obstruction and the need to preserve the scheduled election process.
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