The opposition TDP is likely to boycott the Parishad (MPTC and ZPTC – Mandal Parishad and Zilla Parishad) elections in Andhra Pradesh.
TDP AP president K Atchannaidu had indicated at boycotting the elections, if they were resumed, without renotification.
The TDP, besides other parties, have raised several allegations and objections over the local body elections in May 2020.
They alleged that the opposition candidates were not allowed to file nominations and the ruling party was resorting the electoral malpractices.
The then state election commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar had indicated at some irregularities in the local elections.
It was suspected that he would cancel the MPTC and ZPTC elections, which were declared unanimous by March 2020.
However, he was satisfied with the government’s support to him to complete the panchayat and municipal elections and left the task of parishad elections to his successor.
Nilam Sawhney, who succeeded Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar, drafted the notification continuing the paused elections, without disturbing the process that was initiated by her predecessor.
It looked as if the new SEC had carefully drafted the notification, to continue the “paused elections” which would mean conduct of elections from the last date of withdrawal of nominations in March 2020.
This would mean that the TDP would not contest the elections as it had challenged the electoral process and demanded that a fresh notification be issued for the parishad elections.
It is to be seen what the TDP would say when it attends the all party meeting of the State Election Commission to be held on Friday.
