1 week ago
Andhra Pradesh Plans Local Body Polls By October
The Andhra Pradesh government told the High Court that local elections should finish by the end of October.
These elections are for local governments such as urban local bodies and gram panchayats.
Election officials are preparing voter lists and discussing the process with district officials.
The government is also reviewing some election laws.
A commission gave the government a report about seats reserved for backward classes.
One lawyer said reservations should not go above 50 percent.
Another petition asked for a backward-class population count before the elections.
The court asked the government to provide more information within two weeks.
The Andhra Pradesh government told the High Court it plans to complete local body elections by the end of October.
The State Election Commission is preparing electoral rolls and consulting District Collectors about conducting the polls.
The government is considering amendments to laws related to local body elections.
The Rajiv Ranjan Mishra Commission submitted a report on reservations for backward classes in the elections.
The High Court gave the government two weeks to submit details on reservations and related issues.
- Who
- The Andhra Pradesh government, State Election Commission, High Court judges, and petitioners including Tandava Yogesh and Kesina Shankar Rao.
- What
- The government stated that elections to local bodies would be completed by the end of October, while the court considered petitions and reservation issues.
- Where
- The Andhra Pradesh High Court in Vijayawada.
- When
- The matter was heard on Wednesday; the government was given two weeks to submit details.
- Why
- The terms of 123 urban local bodies and 13,325 gram panchayats were coming to an end, while petitioners sought elections and clarity on backward-class reservations.
Government and Election Authorities
Petitioners and Legal Challengers
Election timing
Government and Election Authorities
The government told the court it had decided to complete local body elections by the end of October and said preparations were under way.
Petitioners and Legal Challengers
Petitioners sought court directions to ensure that elections were held, citing the approaching end of the terms of local bodies and gram panchayats.
Reservation process
Government and Election Authorities
The government said it was considering relevant issues, reviewing amendments, and would issue a Government Order based on the commission’s report.
Petitioners and Legal Challengers
Tandava Yogesh argued that reservations must remain within the Supreme Court’s 50% ceiling, while another petition sought a backward-class population census before reservations and elections were finalised.
Key facts
- Planned election deadline
- End of October
- Urban local bodies
- 123
- Gram panchayats
- 13,325
- Court deadline
- Two weeks to submit reservation details
- Reservation issue
- A petitioner argued that reservations should not exceed the 50% ceiling.
- Electoral preparations
- The State Election Commission asked the government to prepare and finalise electoral rolls and was meeting District Collectors.
- Reservation report
- The Rajiv Ranjan Mishra Commission submitted a report to the State government on finalising backward-class reservations.











