The Supreme Court has issued key directions concerning Andhra Pradesh’s municipal elections, ordering the State Election Commission (SEC) to defer publication of the final candidates’ list until October 25, 2026. The order follows complaints alleging violence, intimidation and obstruction during the nomination process.
The directions came during a hearing on allegations raised by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), which claimed that some candidates were prevented from filing their nomination papers. The Court asked the SEC to examine complaints, video clips and other supporting evidence and decide by October 22 whether nomination deadlines should be extended in areas where candidates were unable to file papers because of law-and-order problems.
The Court further directed that if the SEC decides to extend the nomination period, affected candidates must receive at least 48 additional hours from the official announcement of that decision to submit their papers.
The SEC has been asked to assess the complaints individually and make decisions based on the available evidence. The directions are intended to address allegations of obstruction while leaving the election authority responsible for examining the cases. The developments have added uncertainty to the ongoing municipal election process in Andhra Pradesh.