The Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissed a YSRCP petition seeking an extended deadline for municipal local body nominations, ruling that judicial intervention during the active electoral schedule is impermissible. The decision follows a tense opening day of filings marked by clashes, police cases, and tight security mandates across districts.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissed an auxiliary petition filed by YSRCP state general secretary Lella Appi Reddy that asked the State Election Commission to extend the municipal nomination window by another day. The division bench, comprising Justice N. Jayasurya and Justice Chintalapati Purushottam Kumar, issued the order, noting that the deadline for submissions had already closed at 3 p.m. on Sunday and that altering the schedule at this stage would disrupt the broader electoral calendar. The court also scheduled further hearings on the main appeals for October 26, directing both the state government and the State Election Commission to submit formal counter-affidavits.
Division Bench Upholds Lower Court Rejection Over Central Forces
The high court ruling marks a second legal setback for the opposition party in days. Earlier, a single bench dismissed a related request for central paramilitary deployment at polling and counting stations, prompting YSRCP MLC Lella Appi Reddy to escalate the plea to a division bench. The higher bench reaffirmed that maintenance of law and order falls squarely under the jurisdiction of the state police machinery and the State Election Commission, declining to mandate central force deployments based on what it termed speculative apprehensions.
The party’s legal strategy had targeted the neutrality of local authorities, arguing through counsel that state personnel favored the ruling coalition and failed to protect opposition candidates. Legal representatives for the State Election Commission countered that intervening in an active election notification would unconstitutionally override electoral oversight, pointing out that scrutiny of nomination papers was scheduled to begin on Monday.
Punganur Clashes and Police Cases Against Mithun Reddy
The legal battles unfolded against a backdrop of localized confrontation. The nomination process opened on October 16, 2026, with widespread tension and violent incidents in Annamayya district, particularly in Punganur, where stone-throwing targeted a convoy carrying Mithun Reddy. Police fired shots into the air to control the crowd, while separate disturbances in Tirupati Bairagipatteda involved torn nomination papers.
Law enforcement authorities filed cases against roughly 70 individuals in connection with the Punganur violence, naming Mithun Reddy directly. The Advocate General submitted drone camera footage and other evidence to the court to clarify the sequence of events at the returning officer’s office, where opposing factions clashed. In response to the unrest, police also served official notices barring Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy and Mithun Reddy from entering Punganur town.
Mandatory CCTV and Security Directives Issued by the Court
Even as it declined to extend deadlines or dispatch paramilitary units, the judiciary stepped in to mandate transparency measures for the ongoing local polls. On October 17, 2026, the high court ordered comprehensive CCTV coverage at all offices where candidates file nominations, alongside strict adherence to a security circular issued by the Director General of Police on October 16, 2026.
The bench also directed election authorities to enforce clear identification displays for all personnel on election duty, ensuring that observers and officials carry visible credentials to prevent confusion at sensitive voting stations.