The YSR Congress party government on Saturday sought to drag the Central government into the ongoing legal battle with state election commission headed by retired IAS officer Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar in the state high court.
Reacting to the counter-affidavit filed by Nimmagadda, the Jagan government told the court that it was surprising that the SEC was refusing to believe even the Centre’s guidelines on Coronavirus vaccination programme.
“While the Centre has been asking the states to get ready for vaccination programme, the SEC has no faith in it. He doesn’t believe vaccine for Covid-19 would be ready in a few days,” the government told the court.
Stating that the Centre had already issued guidelines for the vaccination programme, the Jagan government said it would be better if the Centre itself submits the same in the form of an affidavit. It sought to make the Centre as a respondent in the petition, it said.
The government sought time till Tuesday, so that the Centre could submit its stand to the counter filed by Nimmagadda. The Centre deferred the case till December 22.
It may be mentioned that the state government on last Tuesday filed an affidavit in the high court stating that it would not be possible to conduct the elections to local bodies in February, as the official machinery would be busy with Coronavirus vaccination programme.
The government argued that as per the central government guidelines, the vaccination programme will be taken up in January and February.
Not only the police department, but the employees of various other departments would be engaged in the vaccination programme, it said.
However, the SEC filed a counter on Thursday stating that the conduct of local body elections would no away affect the vaccination programme.
“Moreover, it takes at least three to six months for the vaccination programme to commence in the state,” he said.
The SEC also brought to the notice of the high court that elections were held in Bihar, Rajasthan and Hyderabad without any issue due to Coronavirus pandemic.
“The situation in AP is conducive for holding elections to local bodies,” he said.
