Amaravati, 22 October (H.S.): The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) on Wednesday halted the ongoing election process in 100 urban local bodies following directions from the Supreme Court, which asked the poll panel to examine allegations that candidates were prevented from filing nominations in some areas.

State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha ordered an immediate suspension of further proceedings in 13 municipal corporations and 87 municipalities and nagar panchayats. The commission had notified the elections on October 14, with nominations scheduled from October 16 to 18 and scrutiny of papers on October 19.

The Supreme Court intervened after the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) challenged an Andhra Pradesh High Court order declining to extend the nomination deadline. The party alleged that violence and threats in Punganur, Rayachoti, Kadapa and Tirupati had prevented its candidates from reaching nomination centres and completing the filing process.

The apex court directed the SEC to defer publication of the final list of candidates until October 25 and consider representations from the YSRCP and other candidates. It also asked the commission to examine documentary and electronic evidence before deciding whether the nomination deadline should be extended in local bodies where candidates were unable to file papers because of law-and-order problems.

Punetha said the commission would issue its decision on extending the nomination deadline on October 22 after obtaining reports from the respective district administrations. Any extension, he said, would provide candidates at least 48 hours from the publication of the decision to file nominations, with the relevant election notifications amended accordingly.

The YSRCP, in its petition filed through Advocate-on-Record Mahfooz A Nazki, sought adequate police protection for candidates and measures to ensure they could submit nominations without fear. The party alleged that its candidates had been attacked, threatened and obstructed during the nomination process.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar