Hyderabad: The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) has moved the Supreme Court alleging that violence and intimidation in Andhra Pradesh prevented several of its candidates from filing nominations for the Urban Local Body elections. The party has sought police protection for candidates, an extension of the nomination deadline and additional or alternative nomination centres to ensure that candidates can submit their papers safely.
In a Special Leave Petition (SLP), the party has challenged an October 18 order of the Andhra Pradesh High Court that rejected its plea to extend the nomination period by one day. The High Court had held that the deadline had expired and that extending it would amount to interference in the election process.
The petition, filed through YSRCP General Secretary Lella Appireddy, alleges that several candidates were assaulted, threatened or physically prevented from reaching nomination centres during the filing period, which began on October 16 and ended on October 18.
According to the petition, incidents of violence were reported in Punganur, Rayachoti, Kadapa and Tirupati. The party has alleged that the nomination papers of a candidate in Kadapa were snatched and torn. It has also claimed that nine candidates contesting the Tirupati Municipal Corporation elections were prevented from entering the offices of the concerned Returning Officers.
The petition further refers to an alleged attack on the convoy of YSRCP MP P.V. Midhun Reddy while he was accompanying candidates to file their nominations.
The party had earlier approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking additional facilities for filing nominations at district headquarters, citing concerns over possible violence.
On October 15, a Single Judge declined to grant the blanket relief sought by the party but allowed individual candidates to approach the concerned Election Officers for assistance.
Following the alleged incidents on October 16, the YSRCP approached the State Election Commission, seeking an extension of the nomination deadline. According to the petition, the Commission directed that adequate security be provided at nomination centres but did not extend the deadline.
The party has now urged the Supreme Court to intervene, arguing that candidates who were allegedly obstructed from filing their nominations should be permitted to submit their papers during an extended period.