SEC writes to CS Nilam Sawhney, says AP is not alone to postpone local body elections

Vijayawada: State Election Commissioner N Ramesh Kumar in a three-page letter to Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney said that Andhra Pradesh is not alone in postponing elections. Maharashtra, Bengal and Orissa also postponed the elections in the wake of Corona outbreak.

He said SECs all over India are regularly in touch with each other and sharing information. If the postponement is announced one day later the scene would've been entirely different.

Referring to the 14th Finance Commission fund to the local bodies, he said the fund could be accessed. He recalled that in the past the state government was able to access the withheld funds successfully after holding elections for the previous years as well.

Justifying his order, the SEC said Coronavirus is truly a circumstance beyond anticipation. That's why other states also stopped elections.

The chief secretary Nilam Sawhney wrote to state election commissioner Ramesh Kumar to continue the election for local bodies as per schedule. She said that the coronavirus is under control in the state.