Gurumoorthy’s letter to the President and Governor on October 21 slammed what he called a wave of intimidation, attacks and the destruction of nomination papers across five districts, naming a vehicle arson in Anantapur and an assault on Rajampet MP P.V. Midhun Reddy as emblematic.
The Supreme Court, hearing the complaint that night, directed the State Election Commission to investigate the allegations, postpone the release of the final candidate list, and reinforce police presence and CCTV coverage at every nomination centre.
In response, the SEC extended the nomination window in four urban local bodies and halted the voting process across all 100 bodies, citing the court’s mandate to ensure “a free and fair election.”
Gurumoorthy also demanded deployment of Central Armed Police Forces in hot spots, additional extensions for nominations, and the appointment of a retired High Court or Supreme Court judge to oversee the remainder of the poll, arguing that the current remedial measures are too narrow.
The move deepens the rift between the ruling TDP‑led NDA alliance and the YSRCP, and the next week will see the SEC implement the court’s directives while the court schedules a hearing on the probe’s scope, a decision that will shape the final electoral timetable.