The Andhra Pradesh government has indicated that it is prepared to conduct local body elections in the state. At a meeting chaired by State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punya, officials from the Municipal Administration, Urban Development and Panchayat Raj departments submitted separate reports on their election preparedness. Officials said the election process could begin once the cases pending before the courts are resolved.
According to the report submitted by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department, the required process for delimitation of divisions and wards across around 100 municipalities and municipal corporations can be completed within approximately 20 days if the court delivers a favourable verdict in the pending cases. The department has been closely monitoring the legal proceedings related to the restructuring of local bodies.
Of the 100 municipalities, municipal corporations and nagar panchayats where elections were held in 2021, the terms of elected bodies in 87 local institutions ended in March. The remaining 13 local bodies will continue until November 22 this year. The Municipal Administration Department has informed the State Election Commission that it is ready to conduct elections for the 87 local bodies whose terms have already expired.
