Andhra panchayat election rescheduled; Jagan govt 'can't do vaccinations & polls together'

Even as Supreme Court refused to stay panchayat elections as demanded by CM Jagan's Andhra Presh government, State Election Commissioner Nimmagda Ramesh Kumar revised first phase of polls to February 21. move was taken as re h been preparation for polls scheduled from February 5. mination process for same was to be started on Monday but with Jagan Mohan Reddy government amant on conducting elections, preparations were in place. 

Moreover, SEC has reportedly written to Union Cabinet Secretary to allot employees of Central government as well as Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) for election duties in State in wake of State government employees reluctance to perform duties. On or hand, Andhra Presh Chief Secretary has written to Union Health Secretary about stalling COVID vaccination process amid polls in state. 

Thus, issuing a tification after SC's clearance, SEC said that it has come to a conclusion that election process has been vitiated as district ministrations have t me arrangements for receiving minations for phase-I panchayat elections scheduled from Monday. SEC statement ded, "In wake of this, first phase election is rescheduled as phase IV and as a consequence of this, phase II, Phase III and Phase IV elections will become Phase I, Phase II and Phase III. 

Revised Poll schedule

• Phase - I - February 9

• Phase- II - February 13

• Phase-III - February 17

• Phase-IV - February 21

Schedule for phase IV election  (Earlier phase 1)

• Date of issue of tification and filing of minations  - February 10

• Last date for filing minations - February 12

• Scrutiny of minations - February 13

• Appeal against rejection of minations - February 14

• Disposal of appeals - February 15

• Last date for withdrawal of minations - February 16

• Publication of final list of candidates - February 16

• Elections (wherever necessary) - February 21

• Counting of votes and declaration of results - February 21 

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Andhra HC allows SEC to hold polls

As per reports, a 2-judge Andhra HC bench overruled a single-judge bench's order staying SEC from holding gram panchayat polls in February. Subsequently, SEC issued a tification anuncing four-phase polls on February 5,9,13 and 17. First phase polls will be held in districts including Srikakulam, Vishakhapatnam, East Godavari, Krishna, Nellore, Anantapur etc. Challenging SEC's decision, Jagan government h moved SC seeking a stay on holding gram panchayat polls claiming that 'elections and vaccination drive cant happen simultaneously'. Previously, on January 12, a single judge HC bench h stayed polls, which was challenged by SEC in High Court.

Expressing disapproval over ongoing tussle between Andhra Presh government and State election commissioner (SEC) Ramesh Kumar, Supreme Court on Monday dismissed Jagan govt's plea. ting that elections were held in more difficult conditions than COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Supreme court said that 'Ego was leing to lawlessness' while refusing to interfere in decision of SEC to hold gram panchayat polls. 

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Jagan vs SEC

At start of COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Andhra Presh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy lashed out at State Election Commissioner Ramesh Kumar for arbitrarily postponing of rural and urban local body elections. Claiming that his predecessor Chandrababu Naidu h appointed Commissioner of 'his own caste', he slammed transfer of collectors of Chittoor and Guntur districts, saying that if SEC is authorizing such transfers, 'Why was a government needed?'. He has also complained to Goverr Biswabhusan Harichandan on postponing of polls and h moved apex court challenging it.

local body polls which were scheduled for 21-29 March, were postponed by  Andhra Presh State Election Commission (APSEC) by six weeks due to coronavirus scare and also owing to incidents of violence being reported since election dates were anunced. SEC pointed out 23 forced withdrawals and 55 incidents of violence perpetrated by ruling party  - YSRCP against BJP and TDP, seeking protection from Home Ministry. In environment of psychological terror and current pandemic, Kumar asked permission to operate from Hyderab, raising apprehensions on State police.

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