Just when the local body election process in Andhra Pradesh appeared to be proceeding smoothly, political tensions escalated sharply as the deadline for MPTC and ZPTC nominations approached.
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court, alleging that their candidates were being prevented from filing nominations across the state and that adequate protection was not being provided to party members. The party filed an urgent lunch motion petition seeking a further 48-hour extension of the nomination deadline, triggering fresh political debate across Andhra Pradesh.
During the hearing, lawyers representing YSRCP alleged that police were illegally arresting candidates prepared to contest the elections and placing some of them under house arrest, preventing them from leaving their homes.They also alleged that TDP supporters were obstructing YSRCP leaders on their way to nomination centres, attacking them and tearing up their nomination papers outside the centres.Seeking relief, YSRCP asked the court to provide special security for its candidates. It also proposed setting up additional nomination centres at collectorate offices or district parishad offices in areas where tensions were high.
However, the lawyer representing the State Election Commission (SEC) rejected the allegations. The SEC told the High Court that the election process was proceeding according to the announced schedule and that the deadline for receiving nominations had already ended.
After hearing detailed arguments from both sides, the court adjourned the case to Monday, October 26.With the nomination dispute now turning into a legal battle between the political parties, tensions surrounding Andhra Pradesh’s local body elections have intensified further.