AP HC cancels MPTC, ZPTC elections; calls them violative of SC guidelines
The ruling YSRCP have won 2271 MPTC and 126 ZPTC seats unopposed.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 21 May 2021 7:11 AM GMT
Vijayawada: YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government suffered a major setback on Friday when Andhra Pradesh High court canceled MPTC and ZPTC elections held on April 8. The court asked the State Election Commission to hold fresh polls. Opposition Telugu Desam Party had boycotted the election while the ruling YSRCP have won 2271 MPTC and 126 ZPTC seats unopposed.
The High Court noticed that the election process has been vitiated since guidelines issued by the Supreme Court in this regard have been violated. The court has canceled the elections stating that the process was contrary to the Supreme Court guidelines of issuing notification four weeks before and ordered to hold the elections again as per the guidelines.
Senior TDP leader Varla Ramaiah had filed a petition stating that the state election commission had issued a notification on April 1 for the ZPTC and MPTC elections, contrary to the Supreme Court's order to impose the code four weeks before the polling date.
The single judge of the high court who heard the case issued an interim order on April 6 suspending the election process. Later the division bench, after hearing the SEC, allowed the polls to be held on April 8 as per the schedule. However, it halted the counting of votes.
The matter was handed over to a single judge for an in-depth inquiry into the case.
Meanwhile, Jana Sena secretary Chillapalli Srinivasa Rao and BJP leader Pathuri Nagbhushanam have filed separate lawsuits seeking fresh election process in the wake of alleged obstruction, forced withdrawals and violent incidents.
