Andhra Pradesh panchayat poll schedule out

Amaravati: The State Election Commission on Friday issued notification for the 4-phase panchayat election schedule. As per the schedule, the first phase of elections start on January 23 with election notification, second phase on January 27, third phase on January 31 and fourth phase on February 4.

The issue of election notice and receipt of nominations by January 25 in phase I, Jan 29 for the phase II, February 2 for the phase III and February 6 for the phase IV. The last date for nominations is January 27 for the phase I, January 31 for the phase II, Feb 4 for the phase III and Feb 8 for the phase IV.

The scrutiny of nominations will be held on January 28 for phase I, Feb 1 for phase II, Feb 5 for phase III and Feb 9 for phase IV.

The polling will be conducted wherever necessary on Feb 5 from 6.30 am to 3.30 pm in phase I, Feb 9 in phase II, Feb 13 in phase III and February 17 in phase IV.

Counting of votes and declaration of results will be on Feb 5 from 4 pm onwards for phase I, Feb 9 for phase II, Feb 13 for phase III and Feb 17 from 4 pm for phase IV.

The election of upa sarpanch will be held on Feb 5 in phase I, Feb 9 in phase II, Feb 13 in phase III and Feb 17 for phase IV after declaration of results.

The election model code of conduct will come into force with effect from January 9.

It may be noted that both the State Election Commissioner N Ramesh Kumar and Chief Secretary Adityanath Das wrote letters on Friday to each other defending their stand. While the SEC insisted on conducting elections, the Chief Secretary expressed the inability of the state government to conduct elections in view of the Covid pandemic and vaccination programme. The Chief Secretary in a letter addressed to the State Election Commissioner on Friday stated that it was not correct that the state government was avoiding the election process. The state government has been presenting its difficulty in holding elections in view of Covid 19. He said that the pandemic is tackled along with a vaccination programme being undertaken by the Ministry of Health Government of India and whole state machinery would be engaged in the massive operation. Most of the functionaries who would be engaged in conducting the local elections would be those who would be first recipients of vaccines.

In view of this, he requested that the vaccination programme along with Covid 19 management must be allowed to proceed unhindered and once this disaster is tackled with vaccination, the government would agree to any schedule of resumption of halted local election process. In view of the well-being of people of Andhra Pradesh state election commission may consider the request of the state government.

The SEC said it was decided to advance the election schedule which will now commence on January 23 and will be completed by February 17. The schedule is not expected to interfere by and large with the Category III vaccination programme. The commission has opted for 4-stage elections keeping in view the Covid safety protocols. The Commission consulted other State Commissions who have recently held elections, and is well advised to have a spread-out schedule to ensure public safety.