The order issued by the Andhra Pradesh high court asking the YSR Congress party government to hold elections to local bodies in the state before February 10 is believed to be a blessing in disguise for chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The court, which dismissed the plea challenging the 59.85 reservation policy, directed that the whole election process should be completed by March 3.
According to official sources, the notification for elections to Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs) and Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs) would be issued by January 17 and the election will be held on February 8. The results would be announced on February 10.
The Mandal Parishad president and Zilla Parishad chairman would be elected by February 15. Likewise, the notification for the Panchayat election would be released on February 8 and the election process would be completed by March 3.
The notification is expected to be issued anytime after the finalisation of reservations for the SCs, STs, OBCs and women in the MPTCs and ZPTCs and gran panchayats.
Sources said once the notification is issued, the political parties would have to spend considerable time in selection of candidates and giving them tickets and later, campaigning.
Even the villagers would have to concentrate on the elections in their respective gram panchayats, MPTCs and ZPTCs.
“This would definitely take the sting out of the ongoing agitation by Amaravati farmers. At least, the elections would help the government prevent spread of the agitation to other parts of the state. In the meantime, the government could take a quick decision on capital city,” a YSRC source said.
It remains to be seen what impact the capital shift proposal would have on the electorate in different parts of the state.