The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday dismissed two independent petitions filed by YSR Congress party leaders seeking repolling in some polling stations, alleging that the TDP had resorted to rigging in these booths.
The High Court responded to the petitions filed separately by State Irrigation Minister Ambati Rambabu in Sattenapalli and Chevireddy Mohit Reddy in the Chandragiri assembly constituency.
The High Court stated that it cannot interfere in the polling process once the elections are over. The petition should have been filed on the day of polling itself, it said.
Ambati filed the petition on Tuesday seeking repolling in six polling stations in the Sattenapalli constituency in Palnadu district.
He claimed that rigging took place in two polling booths each in Dammalapadu, Narnepadu, and Cheemalamarri, and requested repolling after verifying the webcasting footage at those centers.
Ambati also stated that the police department failed to maintain law and order and observed that last-minute transfers made by the Election Commission were the reasons for the situation.
Recalling that the elections were held peacefully when YSRC was in opposition, the minister alleged that the police did not respond to calls and arrived at the spots where the violence took place very late.
He demanded the ECI conduct a detailed inquiry into the police failure during the polling.