In a significant development, Justice Ravi Cheemalapati of the Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to refrain from issuing the election notification for the Legislative Council seat vacated following the disqualification of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MLC I. Raghu Raju. The Vizianagaram local bodies constituency seat became vacant after Raju was disqualified for allegedly engaging in anti-party activities.

Mr. Raghu Raju, challenging his disqualification, argued in a writ petition that the decision was illegal due to a lack of evidence. He demanded that the declaration of the vacancy be quashed. Representing Raju, Senior Advocate Jandhyala Ravi Shankar requested that the court examine the records of Council Chairman K. Moshenu Raju, who issued the disqualification order on June 3, 2024. He also urged the court to allow Mr. Raghu Raju to continue his membership in the Council until the end of his term on November 26, 2027.

The advocate argued that the Council Chairman should have referred the matter to a committee, utilizing his discretionary powers, but failed to do so. He pointed out other grounds that rendered the disqualification order unjustified.

Justice Ravi Cheemalapati, considering the arguments, has scheduled the next hearing for six weeks later, providing a temporary relief to Mr. Raghu Raju by halting the election notification process. The case remains under judicial review, with further hearings expected to clarify the legal standing and the future of the contested Council seat.