The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) has approached the Supreme Court alleging that mass violence in Andhra Pradesh has prevented its candidates from filing nominations for the Urban Local Body elections.

The party has sought police protection for candidates, an extension of the deadline for filing nominations, and the designation of additional and alternative nomination centres to enable candidates to submit their papers safely.

The Special Leave Petition challenges an October 18 order of the Andhra Pradesh High Court refusing to extend the nomination period by one day. The High Court had dismissed the party's application seeking an extension, holding that the deadline had expired and that extending it would amount to interference with the election process.

The YSRCP, it the petition filed through its General Secretary Lella Appireddy, contends that several of its candidates were allegedly assaulted, threatened or physically prevented from reaching nomination centres during the nomination period, which began on October 16 and ended on October 18.

According to the petition, incidents of violence were reported in Punganur, Rayachoti, Kadapa and Tirupati. The party has alleged that nomination papers of a candidate in Kadapa were snatched and torn, while nine candidates contesting the Tirupati Municipal Corporation elections were prevented from entering the offices of the concerned Returning Officers.

The petition also refers to an alleged attack on the convoy of YSRCP MP P.V. Midhun Reddy while he was accompanying candidates to file their nominations.

The party had earlier approached the High Court seeking additional nomination facilities at district headquarters, citing apprehensions of violence. On October 15, a Single Judge declined to grant the omnibus relief sought and granted liberty to individual candidates to approach the concerned Election Officers.

Following the alleged incidents on October 16, the party sought an extension of the nomination deadline from the State Election Commission. The Commission directed that adequate security be provided at nomination centres but did not extend the deadline, the petition states.

The YSRCP has argued that courts should intervene to protect the electoral process when candidates are allegedly prevented from contesting elections. It has also sought a direction that candidates who were unable to file nominations due to the alleged obstruction be allowed to submit their papers during the extended period.

The YSRCP has argued that the bar on judicial interference in the election process is a rule of judicial restraint and not an absolute prohibition. It contends that the restriction on courts entertaining challenges to elections outside the prescribed election petition mechanism does not prevent constitutional courts from issuing directions that aid and facilitate the conduct of elections.

The party has submitted that courts must intervene where the democratic process is allegedly being thwarted and candidates are prevented from contesting elections. It has further argued that the expiry of the nomination deadline cannot be a ground to deny relief when the alleged obstruction itself prevented candidates from filing their papers.

Additionally, the party has sought a stay on the declaration of candidates as elected unopposed in the affected wards pending further orders from the Supreme Court.

The petition has been filed through AoR Mahfooz A. Nazki.