Nimmagadda Ramesh appeals governor to reject AP assembly resolution over local body elections

The issue of local body elections in Andhra Pradesh is taking a new turn. The matter is being hotly debated between the Jagan government and state election commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar. While State Election Commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh is trying to hold local elections under any circumstances, the Jagan government is adamant that it cannot do so now. The turmoil is also running in the state high court. It was at this juncture that the YSRCP government decided in the state assembly and passed a resolution that elections would not be held in near future on Friday at present.

With this, SEC Nimmagadda Ramesh alerted and wrote a letter to Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswabhushan Harichandan regarding the election. The governor advised that the assembly resolution be rejected and consult the Supreme Court legal experts if necessary. In the letter, Nimmagadda Ramesh said that the Assembly resolution on the conduct of local elections was unconstitutional. He said the Election Commission has autonomy under Article 243K of the Constitution. He clarified that it was the duty of the Commission to hold elections every five years.

In a letter to the governor, Nimmagadda Ramesh said that the Central Election Commission and the State Election Commission have equal powers in matters of elections. He said the decision to hold elections with the consent of the government was unconstitutional and demanded that such an ordinance be rejected. In a letter to the governor, Nimmagadda appealed governor consult the Supreme Court if necessary in this regard.