The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission has directed senior state officials to ensure that upcoming local body elections are conducted peacefully, freely and impartially, with additional security planned for sensitive areas.
State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha reviewed election preparedness at a meeting attended by Chief Secretary G Sai Prasad, Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) N Madhusudana Reddy and Inspector General of Police B Rajakumari.
“We have directed officials to take stringent measures to ensure that local body elections are conducted peacefully, freely and impartially across Andhra Pradesh,” Punetha said in a press release.
The review comes ahead of elections to 100 urban local bodies, which are scheduled for October 28. The results of those elections will be declared on October 30. The commission’s directions cover security arrangements, maintenance of law and order and the protection of candidates and voters during the electoral process.
According to the statement, the Director General of Police said preventive measures had been taken to avert untoward incidents during the upcoming phases of the elections, particularly in view of incidents reported in some districts. Security arrangements in sensitive areas will be reviewed, with additional police forces to be deployed wherever necessary.
The Chief Secretary said clear instructions had been issued to district officials to ensure there was no negligence in maintaining law and order. District administrations were also told to remain prepared to handle any situation effectively.
Punetha specifically stressed the need for adequate security to allow candidates to file their nominations freely and voters to exercise their franchise without fear. He also directed officials to take strict legal action against people violating election rules.
The election schedule extends beyond the urban local body polls. Elections to Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies are scheduled for November 3, with results to be announced on November 5. Gram panchayat elections will be conducted in three phases on November 26, November 29 and December 2, with results declared on the same day as each phase.
The commission’s review places the immediate administrative focus on security coordination between the state election machinery, the police and district administrations. For urban local bodies, the arrangements will cover the October 28 polling date and the counting process scheduled two days later. Further security deployment will be determined after reviews of sensitive areas and local requirements.
