In what can be considered a setback to the YSR Congress party government, the Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to intervene in the decision of the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission to postpone the local body elections in the state on account of Coronavirus scare.
The Supreme Court dismissed the petition of the state government seeking revocation of the orders issued by SEC Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar on Sunday postponing the elections. It said it cannot interfere in the powers of the state election commission.
The court said the SEC could announce the new schedule of the local body elections after six weeks in consultation with the state government. Till such time, the election process could be withheld, it ordered.
The Supreme Court, however, lifted the model code of conduct imposed by the state election commission. But the government should not introduce or announce any new schemes that would influence the voters, but can continue with ongoing developmental programmes.
“The fresh model code of conduct will come into effect four weeks prior to the announcement of revised election schedule, which will be decided by the SEC after six weeks,” the court ruled.
