Amaravati: Chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan met on Thursday morning at the CM's residence in Undavalli, days after the State Election Commission put the election process for 100 urban local bodies on hold following a Supreme Court order. BJP state president P. V. N. Madhav was also present.
Pawan Kalyan arrived without his convoy or security detail. The meeting lasted about half an hour, and the discussion centred on how to take the elections forward, according to people briefed on it. The issue of rebel candidates also came up.
Though seat-sharing is complete, leaders who missed tickets across the three parties have entered the fray as rebels. With candidates from alliance partners contesting seats allotted to another party, there is concern that the coalition's votes will split. Leaders have decided to persuade the rebels to withdraw.
Earlier, around midnight on Wednesday, Naidu, Pawan Kalyan and Madhav issued a joint statement saying they would respect the State Election Commission's decision. They accused the YSR Congress Party of trying to block the local elections from day one and of filing dozens of petitions in courts, holding up development.
The new schedule for the local body elections will depend on the Election Commission's next decision.
The alliance partners had earlier announced seat-sharing for the local body polls, but the Supreme Court's intervention has forced a rethink on timing. Officials said the commission will await clarity before issuing a fresh schedule. For the ruling alliance, the priority is to keep its vote intact and avoid a split that could hand an advantage to the Opposition in urban wards.