The Supreme Court rejected YSRCP's request to extend the local poll nomination deadline. Aggrieved candidates may challenge their exclusion through election petitions under the law.Newdelhi,Oct 27, 2026 21:02 ISTThe Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to extend the deadline for filing nominations for the local body elections in Andhra Pradesh, rejecting a plea by the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), news agency Press Trust of India reported.A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said the party's allegations that its candidates had been prevented from filing nominations involved disputed facts that could not be examined at this stage.The court said candidates who claimed they had been wrongfully excluded could file election petitions, subject to proving their claims under the law.

It also indicated that it might issue comprehensive guidelines to safeguard the electoral process.On October 21, the Supreme Court had said that instilling confidence in the election process was vital for maintaining constitutional democracy. It had asked the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (APSEC) to defer publishing the final list of candidates for the civic polls.

According to PTI, the order followed a YSRCP plea alleging that its candidates had been prevented from filing nomination papers because of violence and threats.The court had directed the state election commission to consider complaints filed by the YSRCP and other candidates, along with relevant material supporting their claims that they had been prevented from submitting nomination papers. It had asked the commission to decide whether the nomination deadline should be extended.

The court had also directed the state police chief to provide adequate security to candidates and election offices. It observed that the filing of nomination papers was an aspect of free and fair elections.The Supreme Court had clarified that it was not directly intervening in the election process but was allowing the state election commission to consider the party's grievance and take an appropriate decision.

It has now declined to extend the nomination deadline while allowing aggrieved candidates to pursue election petitions under the law.- Ends