SEC keeps local body election notification issued on September 29 in abeyance

Following the High Court's stay on local body elections, the State Election Commission has suspended the notification issued on September 29. All related processes, including the Model Code of Conduct and nominations for ZPTC, MPTC, and Gram Panchayat elections, have been put on hold until further notice.

Hyderabad: After stating that it would follow the High Court’s stay orders issued on Thursday, the State Election Commission (SEC) has kept the local body elections notification, issued on September 29, in abeyance with immediate effect until further notification.

Accordingly, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and the ZPTC and MPTC nominations filed and all other processes and proceedings are suspended. Similarly, the MCC and all other processes and proceedings issued for Gram Panchayat elections also are suspended until further notification issued by the Commission.

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Earlier in the day, even as the Telagana High Court was scheduled to hear the State government’s order providing 42 per cent reservations to BCs in local body elections, District Collectors had issued election notices for the first phase of ZPTC and MPTC polls.

The SEC had already issued a notification for the elections on September 29, proposing to conduct them in two phases. Accordingly, Collectors released the election notice for the first phase on Thursday morning.

Under this phase, elections were to be held in 58 revenue divisions across 31 districts. Nominations were scheduled to be received for 292 ZPTCs and 2,963 MPTCs from October 11, with the last date for withdrawal as October 15. Polling was set for October 23 and results were to be declared on November 11.

However, with the High Court issuing stay orders in the evening, the entire election process has been put on hold.