Tadepalli, October 2026 : With the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission announcing the schedule for local body elections, YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) State Coordinator Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy on Wednesday directed party leaders and constituency observers to ensure that no seat goes uncontested due to the absence of a party candidate.
Acting on the instructions of YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Sajjala asked observers for parliamentary and Assembly constituencies to remain actively involved on the ground until the election process is completed. He stressed that every party candidate must receive comprehensive support, from filing nominations to campaigning, polling and counting.
Addressing a teleconference with constituency observers and coordination teams, Sajjala said the compressed election schedule required the party to undertake candidate selection, documentation, nomination filing and campaign preparations simultaneously.
He directed observers to remain available round-the-clock for the next 15 to 20 days, resolve coordination issues and ensure that candidates had access to legal, media, digital and organisational support.
Sajjala instructed prospective candidates to immediately apply for caste certificates, No-Dues certificates and other mandatory documents required for filing nominations. Any delay in obtaining these documents should be reported to the party's central office so that necessary legal intervention could be initiated.
He also urged candidates to file their nominations well before the deadline and maintain video evidence of any obstruction, police intervention or administrative irregularity encountered during the process.
The observers were asked to closely monitor campaign activities, polling-station arrangements, CCTV coverage, counting centres and other election-related preparations. A daily reporting mechanism will connect field teams with parliamentary constituency observers, regional coordinators, district presidents and the central office to ensure swift communication and resolution of problems.
Sajjala said the performance of observers would be assessed on the basis of their presence in the field, ability to resolve issues, coordination with party units and the assistance provided to candidates throughout the electoral process.
Meanwhile, YSRCP General Secretary Lella Appi Reddy approached the State Election Commission (SEC), seeking an immediate mechanism to help prospective candidates obtain complete details of criminal cases registered against them anywhere in Andhra Pradesh.
In a representation to the commission, Appi Reddy said several party leaders and prospective candidates were facing cases registered at different police stations but were often unaware of the relevant case numbers, police stations or districts.
He pointed out that the lack of consolidated information could create difficulties for candidates in making complete and accurate disclosures while submitting their nomination papers.
Appi Reddy requested the SEC to direct the Director General of Police, district Superintendents of Police, Commissioners of Police and Station House Officers to facilitate access to a consolidated, authenticated statewide list of cases registered against prospective candidates.
Under the proposed mechanism, candidates approaching local police stations with Aadhaar-based identity verification should receive details of all cases registered against them across the state. Where no cases are found, the police should issue written confirmation stating that no such records exist.
He also sought mandatory acknowledgement of every application and delivery of the requested information within 24 hours. The facility, he stressed, should be available uniformly to all prospective candidates.
Appi Reddy urged the Election Commission to intervene without delay, stating that timely access to verified information would help candidates meet nomination disclosure requirements and prevent procedural uncertainty or disadvantage during the local body elections.
