Adityanath Das, the Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh has sent a written application to the State Election Commissioner N Ramesh Kumar requesting him to postpone the Panchayat Polls till the beginning of the COVID-19 vaccination drive in the state, along with full-fledged management against the pandemic.
“Once this disaster is tackled with vaccination, the government would agree to any schedule of resumption of the halted local election process. In view of the well-being of people of Andhra Pradesh state election commission may consider the request of the state government”, wrote the Chief Secretary in his letter to the SEC.
Besides, Das also expressed concern about the inability of the government of Andhra Pradesh in conducting a risk-free election during the pandemic situation.
“The state government has 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 management is being undertaken with the guidance of the Union Government”, wrote the Chief Secretary.
According to Chief Secretary, if the State Election Commission attempts to hold the dates of elections till the beginning of the vaccination program, it will be helpful to the state in curbing the spread of the virus.
Notably, SEC N Ramesh Kumar on Friday announced the schedule of AP gram panchayat elections, which is to begin from February 5. The letter of the AP Chief Secretary followed the announcement of the election schedule.