Andhra local body results to be announced after May 7

New Delhi/Hyderabad, March 27 (IANS) The Supreme Court Thursday directed the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission not to declare the results of local body elections before May 7.

Hearing a petition challenging the panel's decision to announce the results of panchayat raj elections on April 13, the court asked the election authorities to declare the results after May 7.

The petitioner had argued that the results could impact the simultaneous elections to state assembly and Lok Sabha scheduled in two phases on April 30 and May 7.

The apex court also directed the election commission to hold the polls to the local bodies on April 6 and 11.

The commission had announced polls in two phases on April 6 and 8 but the petitioner raised an objection on the ground that the date for the second phase is clashing with Ramanavmi.

The election to 1,096 Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs) and 16,589 Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs) will now be held on April 6 and 11.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh High Court adjourned to Friday hearing on a petition, seeking direction to the election commission not to declare the results of the municipal elections till May 7.

The elections to 146 municipalities and 10 municipal corporations in the state are scheduled on March 30 and the commission has decided to announce the results on April 2.

The political parties have already urged the commission not to announce the results before May 7 as this could impact the voting in assembly and Lok Sabha polls.

The state election commission had to announce schedules for elections to rural and urban local bodies on the directions of the Supreme Court and the state high court respectively.

The courts had taken strong exception to the delay in conduct of the local body polls.