Supreme Court directs SEC to rule on YSRCP's plea to extend nomination filing deadline

The Supreme Court has directed the State Election Commission (SEC) of Andhra Pradesh to examine and rule on a plea filed by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) seeking an extension of the nomination filing deadline for ongoing local body elections. The party alleged that several instances of violence and obstruction had prevented its candidates from submitting their nomination papers within the prescribed timeframe.

YSRCP's petition highlighted cases where its prospective candidates faced assault and were physically blocked from reaching nomination centers, attributing these incidents to a pattern of intimidation. The party contended that such interference violated the constitutional rights of candidates and necessitated additional time to ensure fair participation in the electoral process.

The apex court's direction places the onus on the SEC to evaluate the merits of the plea and determine whether grounds exist for relaxing the nomination deadline. The commission is expected to assess the evidence of obstruction presented by YSRCP while balancing electoral timelines and procedural requirements.

The development comes amid heightened tensions surrounding Andhra Pradesh's local body elections, with opposition parties increasingly raising concerns about the conduct of the electoral process. The SEC's decision on the deadline extension is anticipated to set the tone for the remainder of the election schedule.