AP: SEC To Initiate Rural Body Elections

The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) has decided to hold a meeting with Chief Secretary Adityanath Das, DGP Damodar Goutam Sawang and the Collectors and SPs of all the districts in the state to instruct them to make arrangements for Panchayat elections in the state.

In a statement, the SEC said that the Andhra Pradesh High Court had cleared the decks to hold the elections after taking into consideration the undertaking of the state government that it would take all possible steps for the organisation of the elections.

It said that the model code of conduct had come into effect following the pronouncement of the High Court's judgment on the matter.

It then revealed that the elections would be held in four phases.

The first phase of the elections would be held on February 5, the second phase on February 9, the third phase on February 14 and the fourth and final phase on February 17.

The commission reportedly also said that, like the state government, which had wanted to stay the elections citing the ongoing Covid-19 vaccination drive, it too was concerned, not about the process of the organisation of the elections, but about the safety of the election officials and voters of the state amidst the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, and added that it would implement the necessary safety guidelines to avoid the further spread of the disease.