3 months ago
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The Legislative Assembly connected Wednesday passed the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill–2026, paving the mode for eligible younker to registry arsenic voters 4 times a twelvemonth aft attaining the property of 18.
The Bill was introduced by Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh connected behalf of Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Panchayat Raj, Rural Development and Rural Water Supply K. Pawan Kalyan.
The league was presided implicit by Deputy Speaker Raghu Ramakrishna Raju, and members crossed parties welcomed the legislation.
Under the erstwhile system, January 1 was the sole qualifying day for elector registration successful the Panchayat Raj institutions. As a result, individuals who turned 18 connected January 2 had to hold an full twelvemonth to enroll arsenic voters.
The amendment present allows elector registration connected 4 qualifying dates each twelvemonth — January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1.
The revised proviso aligns Panchayat Raj institutions with the existing strategy followed for Assembly and Parliament elections nether cardinal law, arsenic good arsenic municipal bodies. With this move, a azygous elector database strategy would beryllium implemented crossed the State.
The conjugation authorities led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had earlier promulgated an Ordinance connected December 23, 2025, to this effect. The Assembly present granted legislative support during the ongoing session.
During the treatment connected the Bill, MLAs Lokam Naga Madhavi (Nellimarla), N. Eswara Rao (Etcherla), and Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary (Rajamahendravaram Rural) participated and suggested that irregularities successful elector lists beryllium eliminated to guarantee transparency.
Mr. Durgesh assured the House that their suggestions would beryllium brought to the attraction of Mr. Pawan Kalyan. Mr. Raghu Ramakrishna Raju aboriginal announced that the Bill had been passed unanimously by the House.
