Can’t order probe into YSRCP allegations that candidates blocked from filing Andhra poll papers: SC

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it could not conduct a broad inquiry into allegations that candidates of the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party were prevented from filing nominations for Andhra Pradesh’s local body elections, Bar and Bench reported.

Candidates claiming that they were wrongly excluded would have to establish that they had attempted to file their nomination papers but were prevented from doing so, said a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant.

“These are disputed questions of fact,” the bench was quoted as saying.

On October 19, the YSRCP approached the Supreme Court after the Andhra Pradesh High Court declined to extend the deadline for filing nominations or to direct that additional nomination centres be set up.

The party had alleged that its candidates were intimidated in several places, including Kadapa, Tirupati, Punganur and Rayachoti.

The YSRCP alleged that cadres and supporters of the ruling Telugu Desam Party had obstructed its candidates from filing nominations. The TDP is part of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance at the Centre.

On October 21, the Supreme Court directed the state Election Commission to consider complaints from candidates who alleged that they had been prevented from filing nominations, including electronic evidence. It also directed the commission to extend nomination deadlines wherever candidates were found to have been prevented...

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