In the light of the Supreme Court dismissing Andhra Pradesh government’s appeal to defer rural local bodies elections and allegedly no arrangements being made by the district administrations, State Election Commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar revised the election schedule to make Phase II, Phase III and Phase IV polls as Phase I, Phase II and Phase III elections.

“Phase II, Phase III and Phase IV gram panchayat elections notified in the said notification dated January 23 will become Phase I, Phase II and Phase III respectively,” ordered Kumar.

Kumar highlighted that he received information from several quarters that necessary arrangements were not made by the district administrations to receive nominations scheduled from Monday for Phase I elections.

According to the notification issued on Saturday, nominations for the first phase of the four phase elections should have begun on Monday.

“The State Election Commission came to a conclusion that the election process has been vitiated as the district administration has not made arrangements for receiving nominations for the Phase I gram panchayat elections scheduled from Monday,” he said.

Meanwhile, the SEC issued new dates for Phase IV elections, whose polling will be held on February 21.

According to the rejigged schedule, nominations for Phase I election will begin from January 29 while the elections will be held on February 9.

Phase II election is scheduled on February 13 and Phase III on February 17.

Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner N Ramesh Kumar has written a letter to the Union Home Secretary in the wake of the latest Supreme Court order. Mr. Ramesh Kumar has sought the deployment of the Central Government staff and officers to facilitate the peaceful conduct of the elections.

The SEC told the Union Home Secretary that the employees’ associations were clearly saying that they would take part in the election duty. To this effect, the employees’ leaders have made public comments which were reported in the media. The associations’ leaders were giving the Coronavirus vaccination as the main excuse for their unwillingness to cooperate with the SEC. They have even issued threats to the SEC in this respect.

Considering all these things, Ramesh Kumar has requested for the Central staff. There were previous instances in the past when the Central staff was deployed in some States when there was a threat to law and order during elections.

Already, the AP SEC has got security being given by the Central forces after there was a threat perception from the ruling YCP leaders and their henchmen. The Opposition parties are also demanding the deployment of the Central forces in order to ensure a free and fair election.