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Updated March 17th, 2020 at 18:37 IST

'Local body polls will remain postponed,' says Andhra Pradesh SEC

Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner on Tuesday informed that the local body polls in the state will remain to be postponed in the wake of Coronavirus

Reported by: Misha Bhatt
Andhra Pradesh
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In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner (SEC) Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar in his reply to State Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney's letter, seeking the conduct the local body elections as per the original schedule, stated that the local body elections will remain postponed.

The State Election Commissioner informed that he will only restart the election process after receiving advice from the National Task Force or the Health Ministry.

In his reply, Kumar said, "I am writing to you primarily to clear the misconception that the SEC is ill-informed about coronavirus threat and the financial implications for states. The State Election Commission is also neither alone nor ignorant. SECS are a very informed and proactive group and some of the approaches I have suggested have emanated from our active information sharing platform."

"I wish for early containment of coronavirus and after assured or advised by the National Task Force or the Health Ministry, wish to restart the election process which is assessed as a high human contact scenario, from where it had been paused," he said in the letter. Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary Sawhney had requested the SEC to conduct the local polls as per the pre-decided schedule. Nilam Sawhney in her letter to SEC had said, "The situation is under control for next 3 to 4 weeks."

READ | Andhra Pradesh Min Perni slams SEC for postponing local body polls on TDP's request

Andhra Pradesh Min Perni slams SEC for postponing local body polls 

Andhra Pradesh Transport and Information and Public Relations Minister Perni Venkataramaiah on Monday accused the State Election Commissioner (SEC), N Ramesh Kumar, for postponing the local body elections in the State on the appeal made by TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu. The Minister also alleged Chandrababu Naidu of employing double standards on public safety as regards to the coronavirus outbreak.

READ | Andhra Pradesh govt issues update on measures taken to fight Coronavirus

EC postpones Andhra Pradesh local body polls

Earlier on Monday, reports stated that the local body elections in Andhra Pradesh have been postponed for up to six weeks. According to the State Election Commissioner, N Ramesh Kumar, the new dates for the local body polls will be finalized later taking into account the Coronavirus threat situation in the country. Reportedly, the State EC also stated that the process of elections will not be cancelled. 

READ | YSRC announces 4 candidates, including Parimal Nathwani, for March 26 RS polls from Andhra Pradesh

READ | Civic polls to be held in Andhra Pradesh March 21, 24 and 27

(With inputs from ANI) 

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Published March 17th, 2020 at 18:37 IST

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