In an unprecedented decision, Andhra Pradesh state election commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar on Saturday ordered a virtual house-arrest of state minister for panchayat raj and rural development Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy till February 21.
Nimmagadda gave a direction to this effect to state director general of police Gautam Sawang. He ordered that Peddireddy be confined to his residential premises till the completion of elections to the gram panchayats on February 21.
“During this period, the minister will not have access to media so that he would not make possible inciteful utterances that will have an adverse impact on the ongoing elections to the local bodies as well as on general law and order situation in the district of Chittoor and elsewhere,” the SEC ordered.
Nimmagadda took this action following a statement made by the minister threatening to the district collectors and returning officers that the government would blacklist them if they did not declare the results of the gram panchayats where unanimous elections were held.
The minister, at a press conference, asked the collectors and returning officers not to obey the instructions of the SEC.
“If any officials follow Nimmagadda’s instructions not to declare the unanimous elections till they are cleared by the SEC, action will be taken against them and they will be blacklisted,” Peddireddy said.
He also pointed out that Nimmagadda would be there only till March, 2021 end, but the YSRC government would continue beyond and we will take you to task. He asked the returning officers to disregard the SEC directions and declare all unanimous elections.
“The people of the state are behind us and unanimous elections shall continue, " he said.
Nimmagadda said the minister’s statement had certainly created fear psychosis in the minds of the local body electorate. It amounts to not only interference with the election process, but also subversion of democratic election process to the local bodies underway, he said.
While ordering the house-confinement of the minister, Nimmagadda said Peddireddy, however, can get access to medical aid and such other exigencies warranting inevitable movement as deemed reasonable. He can also discharge his duties as a minister, have access to all official records and papers and can dispose of the matters, the SEC said.