Andhra Pradesh govt. issues rules paving way for direct election of Mayors, municipal chairpersons

The Andhra Pradesh government on Saturday issued statutory rules and orders for conducting ordinary elections to urban local bodies (ULBs), paving the way for the direct election of Mayors and chairpersons and the election of ward members.

Under the amended municipal laws, Mayors of municipal corporations and chairpersons of municipalities and nagar panchayats will be elected directly by voters whose names figure in the respective electoral rolls. This replaces the earlier system of indirect election by elected members and eligible ex-officio members.

The rules prescribe procedures for election notifications, filing of nominations, scrutiny and withdrawal of candidature, publication of the list of contesting candidates, allotment of symbols, appointment of polling agents, postal ballots, use of ballot papers or electronic voting machines, NOTA, challenged and tendered votes, counting and recounting, declaration of results and submission of election expenditure accounts.