Letter No. 72lcsl202l Dated 8.01.2021
To,
The State Election Commissioner, Andhra Pradesh
Vijayawada
Sir,
We are in receipt of your letter dated:08.01.2021. We do not, respectfully, agree
with the contention of the State Election Commission, that State Government is
avoiding the election process/ which was halted by State Election Commission in the
flrst instance for being completed
The State Government have been presenting its difficulty in holding the elections
in view of the invocation of the NDMA Act by Union Government and as the seriousness
of Covid-19, which has affected the entire World. Subsequent to the above invocation
of Disaster Act, Covid-lg management is being under taken with the guidance of Union
Government
The attempt of the State Election Commission to allude that State Government is
advancing spurious grounds For not holding elections when raging pandemic has
I sl Floor, Block No. I ,
A.P Secreloriol, Velogopudi,
Guntur Dislricl,
Amorovoli – 522 238.
Tel. : +91 ^863-2 141 O24/ 1 025
Fox : + 91-863-2441029
E-moil ; cs@op.gov.in
affected people of Andhra Pradesh is regrettable and would advise that reference to
To,
The State Election Commissioner, Andhra Pradesh
Vijayawada.
non officials in official communication may best be avoided by Constitutional
Authorities. Government works on rule, facts, and in public interest.
With regard to the Hon’ble Andhra Pradesh High Court judgement, you would
appreciate that the reply was sent in three days time (State Election Commission
counted three days including the date of Judgement not usually done). There was no
dead line to have consultation with State Officials as indicated by State Election
Commission in his letter.
A request was made to give a date of consultation with State Officials after a
week, as the Senior Government Officials of Health Depaftment & Panchayat Raj
Department are engaged in planning for the vaccination program, apart from ongoing
Covid-l9 management being under taken by Government of India. Somehow State
Election Commission interpreted that consultation must be done immediately, as per
their convenience, instead of mutual convenience. Be that as it may, i would like to
again reiterate that the Government has utmost regard for the democratic process,
halted by the State Election Commission in view of the Covid-19 and would like to be
completed in a proper, free and faif manner. The pandemic Covid-19 is tackled along
with the Vaccination program being undertaken by the l’4inistry of Health Government
of India and who is State machinery would be engaged in the massive operation. lvlost
of the functionaries who would be engaged in conducting the Local Elections would be
those who would be the first recipient of vaccine.
In view of the above, we would request that, the total vaccination program
along with Covid-19 management must be allowed to proceed unhindered and once this
disaster is tackled with vaccination, State would be agree to any schedule of resumption
of halted Local Election process. In view of well being of the people of Andhra Pradesh
State Election Commission may consider the request of State Government.
