Andhra Pradesh SEC to rule on nomination deadline extension today
Synopsis
The Andhra Pradesh SEC faces a court-mandated deadline of 22 October to decide if law and order failures during the ULB nomination window warrant an extension — after the Supreme Court stepped in on a YSRCP petition alleging that its candidates were physically prevented from filing papers in Kadapa, Tirupati, and other districts.
Key Takeaways
The Andhra Pradesh SEC must issue its order on the nomination deadline extension on 22 October , as directed by the Supreme Court .
The SC has deferred publication of the final candidate list to 25 October and mandated any extension be at least 48 hours long.
Elections cover 13 Municipal Corporations and 87 Municipalities/Nagar Panchayats ; notifications were issued on 14 October .
YSRCP alleged its candidates were blocked from filing nominations in Punganur, Rayachoti, Kadapa , and Tirupati .
The DGP has been directed to ensure police deployment and CCTV coverage at nomination centres and file a compliance report.
The Supreme Court will hear the matter again on 27 October when the SEC and state government must submit compliance affidavits.
The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) is set to issue a critical order on Thursday, 22 October, deciding whether to extend the last date for filing nominations in Urban Local Body (ULB) elections across the state — a move directed by the Supreme Court of India after opposition party YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) alleged widespread violence and obstruction during the nomination process.
What the Supreme Court Ordered
On Wednesday, 21 October, a division bench of the Supreme Court directed the SEC to postpone publication of the final candidate list until 25 October and to take a decision on extending the nomination deadline by 22 October positively. The court ruled that wherever the SEC determines candidates were unable to file nominations due to law and order failures, any extension granted must be not less than 48 hours from the time the decision is published, with the election notification amended accordingly.
The apex court also directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to ensure adequate security at all nomination centres — including police deployment and CCTV coverage — and to file a compliance report. Individual Superintendents of Police were separately directed to provide protection to YSRCP candidates. The court further ordered that nomination papers be received by Collectors at district headquarters wherever necessary.
Background: Election Timeline and Allegations
The SEC had issued election notifications on 14 October for polls to 13 Municipal Corporations and 87 Municipalities and Nagar Panchayats across Andhra Pradesh. Under the original schedule, the nomination window ran from 16 to 18 October, scrutiny by Returning Officers took place on 19 October, and the withdrawal deadline was 21 October.
The YSRCP alleged that its candidates were systematically prevented from filing nomination papers in several areas, including Punganur, Rayachoti, Kadapa, and Tirupati. According to the party's petition, nomination papers of a candidate in Kadapa were allegedly seized and torn, while candidates in Tirupati were allegedly barred from entering the offices of Returning Officers. The party also alleged that its workers and Member of Parliament P.V. Midhun Reddy were attacked while travelling to file nomination papers.
How the SEC Is Proceeding
State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha stated that the Commission will issue its order on Thursday after gathering reports from Collectors, District Election Authorities, and Commissioners of Police and Superintendents of Police across affected districts. This ground-level data will form the evidentiary basis for the SEC's determination on which ULBs, if any, will see an extended nomination window.
Notably, the Andhra Pradesh High Court had earlier refused to extend the deadline, prompting YSRCP to approach the Supreme Court via a Special Leave Petition (SLP). The apex court's intervention underscores the constitutional weight of electoral participation — the bench observed that free and fair elections are part of the basic structure of the Constitution and that the right to file nominations is an integral facet of the electoral process.
What Happens Next
The Supreme Court will take up the matter again on 27 October, when both the SEC and the Andhra Pradesh state government are required to submit compliance affidavits. The final candidate list, now deferred to 25 October, will reflect any extensions the SEC chooses to grant. The outcome of Thursday's SEC order will determine whether fresh nomination windows open in contested ULBs — and, in effect, whether the opposition gets a meaningful chance to contest in areas it alleges were forcibly closed off to its candidates.
Point of View
Barricaded Returning Officer rooms, an MP attacked en route to file papers — are precisely the kind of documented, evidence-backed claims that courts cannot dismiss as political noise. The High Court's refusal to act, reversed within hours by the Supreme Court, raises uncomfortable questions about whether state judicial circuits move fast enough in election emergencies. The 48-hour minimum extension rule and mandatory CCTV coverage are useful safeguards, but their value depends entirely on the SEC's willingness to use them without political pressure — something Thursday's order will reveal.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Andhra Pradesh SEC not yet extended the nomination deadline?
The SEC temporarily paused the election process after the Supreme Court directed it to evaluate ground-level law and order reports before deciding on an extension. State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha said the Commission would issue its order on 22 October after receiving reports from Collectors, District Election Authorities, and senior police officials.
What did the Supreme Court order regarding the Andhra Pradesh ULB elections?
The Supreme Court directed the SEC to postpone the final candidate list to 25 October and to decide by 22 October whether to extend the nomination window in ULBs affected by law and order failures. Any extension granted must be at least 48 hours, and the DGP must ensure security at nomination centres with CCTV coverage.
What are YSRCP's specific allegations about the nomination process?
YSRCP alleged that its candidates were prevented from filing nominations in Punganur, Rayachoti, Kadapa, and Tirupati. The party claimed nomination papers of a candidate in Kadapa were seized and torn, candidates in Tirupati were blocked from entering Returning Officers' rooms, and MP P.V. Midhun Reddy was attacked while travelling to file nomination papers.
How many local bodies are going to polls in this election cycle?
The Andhra Pradesh SEC issued notifications on 14 October for elections to 13 Municipal Corporations and 87 Municipalities and Nagar Panchayats across the state. The nomination window originally ran from 16 to 18 October under the original schedule.
When will the Supreme Court next hear this matter?
The Supreme Court will take up the case again on 27 October, when both the SEC and the Andhra Pradesh state government are required to file compliance affidavits detailing steps taken pursuant to the court's directions.
