(Image source from: Thehindubusinessline.com)

Local Body Polls: Supreme Court has a Shock for AP Government:- The government of Andhra Pradesh and the State Election Commission are at loggerheads over the local body polls which got delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. When the Election Commission is ready to conduct the polls, the AP Government opposed their move. This headed for a legal fight. The High Court recently granted permission to conduct the local body polls and the State Election Commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar is making all the arrangements for the same. The AP government challenged this decision in the Supreme Court and the case came for hearing in the apex court today. The Supreme Court cleared all the ways and asked the Election Commission to conduct the panchayat elections in the state as per the schedule.

The state government received a huge shock with the move of the Supreme Court as the state government is not in a mood to go ahead with the polls. The AP government cited vaccine distribution as the reason to delay the polls. The Supreme Court slammed the employee unions and questioned about their interference in the local body polls. The Supreme Court reminded that the elections are held as per the rights of the constitution and they cannot be delayed. AP State Election Commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar recently announced the schedule of the local body polls and the first phase of the polls will be held in February in 11 districts. It's time to wait to see if the AP government along with the employees would co-operate for the polls or if they turn as speed breakers for the local body elections in Andhra Pradesh.

(Video Source: NTV Telugu)