Thu Sep 04 09:47:12 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text followed by a news article based on that information:

**Summary:**

State Election Commissioner Nilam Sawhney has urged the Principal Secretary of the Panchayat Raj & Rural Development department in Andhra Pradesh to expedite pre-election activities like merging Gram Panchayats with urban bodies, upgrading them to municipalities, and completing delimitation and reservation processes by the end of December 2025. This is to ensure timely elections before the expiration of current Gram Panchayat terms on April 2, 2026, as mandated by the Constitution and the AP Panchayat Raj Act of 1994. The SEC emphasized the importance of adhering to Supreme Court guidelines, including the triple test formality for BC reservations. She also noted that elections for around 331 GPs were not held in 2021, and it’s now crucial to synchronize these elections with the upcoming 2026 polls.

**News Article:**

**Andhra Pradesh Prepares for Panchayat Elections; SEC Urges Swift Action**

*Vijayawada, September 4, 2025* – Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner (SEC) Nilam Sawhney has called on the state government to accelerate preparations for the upcoming Gram Panchayat (GP) elections, scheduled before the current terms expire on April 2, 2026. In a letter to the Principal Secretary of the Panchayat Raj & Rural Development department, Sawhney stressed the need to complete crucial pre-election activities by the end of December 2025.

These activities include proposed mergers of Gram Panchayats with neighbouring Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), the upgrading of GPs into Municipalities or Nagar Panchayats, delimitation of constituencies, and the finalization of reservations. The SEC emphasized the constitutional mandate outlined in Article 243E (3)(a) and the AP Panchayat Raj Act of 1994, which require elections to be completed before the expiry of the five-year term.

Sawhney also highlighted a Supreme Court ruling from 2006, reinforcing the obligation of state governments to fully cooperate with State Election Commissions to ensure timely elections for local bodies. Furthermore, she underscored the necessity of adhering to the Supreme Court’s guidelines on reservations for Backward Classes (BC), requiring the “triple test formality” based on the report from the dedicated commission established by the state government.

Adding to the urgency, the SEC noted that ordinary elections to approximately 331 GPs were not conducted in 2021 due to legal and administrative obstacles. She stated that it is now an opportune moment to address these issues and synchronize these elections with the ordinary elections planned for 2026. The timely completion of these pre-election activities is crucial to ensure a smooth and legally compliant electoral process across Andhra Pradesh.

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