New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the State Election Commission (SEC) to postpone the publication of the final list of candidates in Andhra Pradesh's urban local body elections by at least two days, to be completed by October 25, 2026, Verdictum reported. A vacation bench of Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana also directed the Commission to consider the YSR Congress Party's representations, including electronic evidence, and to decide by Thursday whether to extend the nomination deadline by 48 hours in places where it finds candidates were unable to file because of the law-and-order situation.

The bench said constitutional courts cannot remain silent spectators when the foundational tenets of a free and fair electoral process are compromised by systemic impediments, while also noting that judicial deference to election authorities is a bedrock principle, according to Verdictum's report of the order. The YSRCP had alleged — as allegations, not established facts — that violence and intimidation prevented its candidates from filing nominations, ANI reported earlier. The party alleged incidents in Punganur, Rayachoti, Kadapa and Tirupati on October 16, the first day of nominations, claimed a candidate's papers were snatched and torn in Kadapa, and said nine Tirupati candidates had filed affidavits supporting its claims.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court had on October 18 rejected the YSRCP's plea for more time to file nominations, holding that extending the expired deadline would interfere with the election process, reports said. Under the reported election calendar, scrutiny of nominations was on October 19, polling is set for October 28 and counting for October 30. The Supreme Court's directions now require the SEC to rule on the obstruction representations before the revised final list is published. Sources: Verdictum, ANI via Daily Prabhat, LawChakra.