Poll notification draws flak from the government, Opposition welcomes it Updated: Updated: Share Article AAA AP NGOs Association president N. Chandra Sekhar Reddy and other members addressing the media in Vijayawada on Saturday. | Photo Credit: V. RAJU The issue of notification for the first phase of gram panchayat elections by State Election Commissioner N. Ramesh Kumar on Saturday came in for severe criticism by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), while the Opposition parties insisted that the elections should be held as per schedule in compliance with the High Court order. Speaking to mediapersons at Punganur in Chittoor district, Panchayat Raj & Rural Development Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy criticised Mr. Ramesh Kumar’s unilateral action in issuing the election notification when the matter had not yet been adjudicated by the Supreme Court. He questioned the propriety of Mr. Ramesh Kumar’s decision that the elections should be held at a time when the government was engaged in a massive COVID-19 vaccination drive.