Tirupati: SEC Directs Officials to Ensure Fear-Free Nominations, Peaceful AP Local Body Polls

Tirupati, Nov 14 (TNT) : Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha on Saturday directed District Collectors and police officials to work in close coordination to ensure peaceful, free and fair conduct of the forthcoming Urban Local Body (ULB) and Gram Panchayat elections, stressing that every candidate should be allowed to file nominations without obstruction and every voter should be able to exercise their franchise without fear.

Addressing a review meeting with District Collectors and Superintendents of Police from 12 districts at the District Collectorate here, Punetha called for strict maintenance of law and order at every stage of the election process, from filing of nominations to polling and counting of votes.

ADG (Law and Order) Madhusudan Reddy, IGP Rajakumari and Election Observer Varaprasad attended the meeting.

The district SPs briefed the Commissioner on security arrangements and measures being taken for the smooth conduct of elections.

Referring to previous incidents of violence in Annamayya district, Punetha appreciated the prompt response of the SP in bringing the situation under control. While acknowledging the efforts of officials in other districts in handling pressure, he said there should be no compromise in enforcing election rules.

He said the District Collectorates had also been designated as nomination centres, in addition to regular centres, to ensure that candidates could submit their nominations without obstruction.

If difficulties were anticipated at regular centres during ULB elections, special nomination centres should immediately be established at the respective District Collectorates, he said.

For Gram Panchayat elections, he suggested setting up cluster-level nomination centres by grouping two or three villages in each mandal to ensure effective deployment of the available police force.

He directed officials to provide necessary police protection to candidates approaching nomination centres, based on their security requirements.

The Commissioner also instructed officials to ensure CCTV surveillance and videography at nomination centres, polling stations, strong rooms and counting centres.

Complaints relating to the election process should be examined and resolved immediately.

He cautioned officials against any lapses that could force candidates to approach courts over violations of Supreme Court directions.

Appreciating the coordination between the Tirupati District Collector and SP in implementing the Supreme Court’s directions, Punetha said the model adopted in the district should serve as an example for other districts.

He also referred to the State Government’s announcement of financial incentives for Gram Panchayats elected unanimously.

Under the scheme, panchayats with a population of 2,000 to 5,000 would receive Rs 15 lakh, those with 5,001 to 10,000 population Rs 20 lakh and those with a population above 10,000 Rs 50 lakh.

The incentives would be applicable only when the Sarpanch and all ward members were elected unanimously.

He, however, made it clear that unanimous elections should be entirely voluntary and transparent, without threats, pressure or coercion.

In Tirupati district, around 200 of the 777 recognised Gram Panchayats were expected to be elected unanimously, according to preliminary estimates.

Punetha observed that unanimous elections could reduce the requirement for additional police deployment, enabling forces to be utilised in other sensitive areas.

Madhusudan Reddy said the police department was fully prepared to ensure peaceful and transparent elections.

He recalled that senior police officials had personally visited areas affected by a previous law-and-order issue in Kadapa district and brought the situation under control through appropriate security measures.

Rajakumari said the State Election Commission had received 1,182 complaints relating to law and order during the election process so far. Of these, 254 were received directly, 810 through emails and 218 through phone calls.

Kadapa district accounted for the highest number of complaints at 278, followed by Tirupati with 136 and Annamayya with 132.

She said field-level reports had been obtained and action initiated on complaints relating to attacks, threats, obstruction, kidnapping of candidates and tearing of nomination papers during the filing and withdrawal process.

CCTV footage from nomination centres was being preserved, she said, adding that incidents involving obstruction of polling agents and attacks on journalists on polling day were also being treated seriously.