Amaravati

Theruling National Democratic Alliance in Andhra Pradesh said it respects the decision of the State Election Commission to pause the election process for Urban Local Bodies following the Supreme Court direction, but accused opposition YSR Congress Party of trying to stop local body elections through conspiracies.

Top leaders of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Jana Sena Party (JSP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) issued a joint statement after the State Election Commission (SEC) decided to stop, forthwith, the election process in all 100 Urban Local Bodies.

On a petition by the YSRCP, the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the SEC to postpone the final list of candidates till October 25.

The SEC will take a decision on Thursday on extending the last date of filing nominations in Urban Local Bodies, wherever it is of the view that candidates were unable to file their nominations due to the law and order situation.

“We contested the 2024 elections with a promise to rebuild Andhra Pradesh. The people placed their trust in us and gave the alliance the responsibility to govern. For the past two years, we have focused on welfare, development and good governance. We have restored people’s confidence and created an environment where they can live peacefully,” they said.

“Local body elections are now being held. We believe that strong local bodies are essential for the overall development of the state. Timely elections are also important for receiving funds from the 16th Finance Commission and the Central government. Our aim is to complete the elections within the prescribed time and take development forward through local self-government.” They alleged that the YSR Congress Party has shown no responsibility towards public welfare or the state’s development. They accused the party of trying to stop local body elections from the very beginning. “It has approached various courts 59 times in an attempt to halt the process. Now that the hurdles have been cleared and elections are underway, YSRCP has provoked violence in several places, attacked police personnel and dug up roads built for the public. It continues to look for ways to disrupt the elections,” the NDA leaders said.

“At this point, people should also recall how local body elections were conducted during the YSRCP government. Violence and intimidation created fear across the State. Opposition candidates were prevented from even filing nominations. YSRCP then celebrated these forced outcomes as victories,” reads the statement. “Today, when local elections are being conducted lawfully, YSRCP is making every effort to obstruct them. This reflects its approach of intimidation and suppression,” they alleged.

The NDA leaders said the TDP, JSP and BJP have firm faith in democracy. “We will extend our full cooperation to ensure that elections are conducted fairly, honestly and peacefully. We will respect any decision taken by the State Election Commission. Our goal is clear: elections must be held in accordance with the Constitution, people must be free to elect good leaders, and the benefits of development must reach every household,” they added.

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Thursday discussed the strategy to fight the local body elections and the fallout of the apex court's directive to extend the last date for filing of nominations for 100 urban local bodies on a petition filed by the YSRCP.

The court told the State Election Commission (SEC) to consider the pleading of YSRCP that due to law and other problems, free and fair nomination filing was not possible wherever it deems fit. The SC directed the SEC to submit a compliance report at the earliest.

During the meeting, Naidu and Pawan Kalyan reportedly discussed the fallout of the latest development and the rebel threats in some constituencies. The duo, NDA sources said, underlined the need to put up a united face by all the three alliance partners and counter effectively the propaganda unleashed by YSRCP against the coalition government.

Meanwhile, YSRCP general secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy urged SEC to restrain police from behaving like agents of the ruling coalition and initiate measures to ensure free and fair elections for both urban and rural local body elections.