Will AP Parishad Elections Polling Be Postponed?

The polling dates for the Parishad elections in Andhra Pradesh may be revised, with voting scheduled for the 3rd of next month likely to be shifted to the 5th and vote counting potentially moved from the 5th to the 7th. The State Election Commission is expected to announce its decision on Wednesday, according to reports. The commission has already postponed urban local body elections, shifting polling from the 28th of this month to the 1st of next month and counting from the 30th to the 3rd. Since the Parishad polls were originally scheduled for the 3rd, the commission is reportedly considering changes to avoid administrative and logistical difficulties arising from the revised urban election schedule. The development comes after the Supreme Court directed the State Election Commission on Tuesday to proceed with the elections. State Election Commissioner Puneetha is expected to issue an announcement on the proposed changes to the polling and counting dates.

The commission is also closely monitoring the impact of Cyclone Arnab before taking a final decision. Officials are reportedly considering waiting for another two days to assess whether the storm will significantly disrupt daily life and prevent voters from reaching polling stations. According to information received from the Meteorological Department, the cyclone’s impact is expected to continue on Wednesday and Thursday, with conditions likely to return to normal afterwards. Meanwhile, preparations for the urban local body elections are underway, with election materials already arranged at municipal and corporation offices. Arrangements have also been made to transport the materials to polling stations from the morning of the 31st. The commission’s final decision on the Parishad election schedule is expected to depend on administrative requirements and the evolving weather situation.