Supreme Court Orders APSEC to Review Nomination Deadline by Oct. 22

The Supreme Court, in a bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, directed the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (APSEC) to decide by 22 October whether to extend the nomination deadline for the urban local body polls, where candidates were allegedly blocked by law‑order disturbances.

The court also ordered APSEC to delay publishing the final list of candidates until 25 October, granting a minimum 48‑hour extension if the deadline is extended, and to ensure police protection and CCTV coverage at nomination centres.

Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) filed a plea on 10 October after a single judge dismissed its request for additional centres on 15 October and a division bench rejected a one‑day extension on 18 October.

According to YSRCP senior advocate Maninder Singh, violence on 16 October in Punganur, Rayachoti, Kadapa and Tirupati prevented about 63 per cent of the candidates from filing nominations, with videos showing papers torn and candidates assaulted.

APSEC and the State were represented by senior advocate Siddharth Luthra and Mukul Rohatgi, who argued that the petition itself incited violence and that the party was attempting to shape media narrative.

In a move that could reshape the local election timetable, the bench will hear the matter on 27 October and has asked the Director General of Police to submit a compliance report on security arrangements.

One Tirupati candidate, who had his nomination papers ripped in Kadapa, told reporters that he was forced to flee to a nearby mosque to avoid police brutality.