A.P. STATE ELECTION COMMISSION
1st Floor, New HODs Building, M.G. Road, Vijayawada - 520 010.
NOTIFICATION
No. 1503/SEC-B1/2021 Date: 01.04.2021
WHEREAS, the State Election Commission issued Notification No.68/SEC-B1/2020, dated 07.03.2020 for conduct of ordinary elections to Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCS) in the State;
AND WHEREAS, the elections process was completed up to the stage of "Publication of Final List of Contesting Candidates" on 14.03.2020;
AND WHEREAS, the State Election Commission ordered that all further election process shall be stopped forthwith and the election process shall be continued after (6) weeks from 15.03.2020 or after the threat of Covid-19 recedes, whichever is earlier, vide Notification No.68/SEC-B1/2020, dated 15.03.2020.
AND WHEREAS, the State Election Commission further ordered that the paused election process shall remain continue until further orders and decided to resume the paused election process from the stage where it was stopped when the situation conducive for conduct of elections is restored vide Notification No.68/SEC-B1/2020, dated 06.05.2020;
AND WHEREAS, the State Election Commission reviewed the situation and conducted ordinary elections to Gram Panchayats in the State in 4 Phases between 09.02.2021 and 21.02.2021 and thereafter conducted the adjourned election process of Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and Nagar Panchayats from the stage where it was stopped on 15.03.2020 and completed it on 18.03.2021;
AND WHEREAS, the State Election Commission has convened a meeting with the Chief Secretary to Government and other senior officials of Police, Panchayat Raj and Health, Medical & Family Welfare Departments on 01.04.2021 and took stock of the situation;
AND WHEREAS, the Government in its Letter No. 12/CS/2021, dtd. 01.04.2021 informed the State Election Commission that the preparedness for resumption of elections to MPTCS / ZPTCs have been ascertained from the District Administration and that they are fully prepared for conduct of paused elections to MPTCS/ZPTCs and requested the Commission to consider early resumption of the paused election process of MPTCS and ZPTCs from the stage where it was stopped and issue Notification accordingly;
AND WHEREAS, the State Election Commission also convened a Video Conference on 01.04.2021 with the Collectors & District Election Authorities, Superintendents/Commissioners of Police and Chief Executive Officers of Zilla Praja Parishads and reviewed their preparedness for conduct of elections to MPTCs and ZPTCs and the Commission got the feedback from them that the District Administration is ready in all respects to conduct elections of MPTCS and ZPTCS;
AND WHEREAS, in continuation to elections held for Gram Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies recently, the State Election Commission has now decided to resume the election process of MPTCs and ZPTCs from the stage where it was stopped on 15.03.2020 and complete the process;
NOW, THEREFORE, the State Election Commission, in exercise of powers conferred under Article 243-K of the Constitution of India, Sections 151 (1) and 179 (1) of Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 (Act 13 of 1994), the State Election Commission, Andhra Pradesh, hereby, resumes the election process of MPTCs and ZPTCs from the stage where it was stopped earlier and calls upon the registered voters of all Territorial Constituencies of Mandal Praja Parishads (MPTCs) and of all Territorial Constituencies of Zilla Praja Parishads (ZPTCS) to elect their respective Members, except those specified in the Annexure enclosed.
Further, under Section 201-A (2) of the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 and Rule 4 of Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj (Conduct of Elections) Rules, 2006, the Election Schedule for the resumed election process of Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs) is specified in the Annexure appended to this Notification.
