Amaravati: The YSR Congress Party has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Andhra Pradesh High Court's refusal to extend the nomination deadline for urban local body elections, alleging that violence and intimidation stopped many of its candidates from filing papers.
A vacation bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana is scheduled to hear the plea on October 21, the final day for withdrawal of candidature. Polling is set for October 28.
The party alleged incidents of violence in Punganur, Rayachoti, Kadapa and Tirupati on October 16, the first day of nominations. It claimed a candidate's papers were snatched and torn in Kadapa, while candidates in Tirupati were assaulted and stopped from reaching nomination centres. Nine Tirupati candidates have submitted affidavits, the party said.
YSRCP state coordinator Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy said attacks, intimidation and criminal cases would not force the party out of the elections. He demanded an inquiry by a sitting High Court judge into alleged police firing in Pulivendula, claiming officers opened fire without provocation while opposition candidates tried to file nominations.
The ruling Telugu Desam Party rejected the charges. In a post, it said the YSRCP's agenda was "rowdyism and winning elections to obstruct development", and accused the opposition of promoting violence. The State Election Commission completed scrutiny and announced 22,806 valid nominations.
The YSRCP sought an extension of the nomination period, additional centres equipped with videography, police protection for candidates and a stay on declarations of candidates elected unopposed. It said it would pursue the matter up to the Supreme Court.
Withdrawal of candidature closes on October 21, the day of the hearing, and results are expected on October 30.