Sri Vijaya Puram, November 13: A dispute over the appointment of the Returning Officer has brought fresh tensions to the forefront within the Andhra Association, one of the community organisations representing the Telugu-speaking population of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with a life member questioning the neutrality of the election process and demanding the appointment of an independent officer ahead of the December 27 general elections.
The controversy has opened up a larger debate over the association’s governance, the interpretation of its Constitution and Bye-laws, and the need to restore an elected leadership after an alleged nine-year gap in holding general elections.
B. Hema Raju, a life member of the association, has submitted a written objection to the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman District, on November 11, seeking the cancellation of the appointment of S. Tejeswar Rao as Returning Officer. He has called for a neutral and independent officer to oversee the electoral process, alleging that concerns surrounding the present appointment could undermine members’ confidence in the elections.
The objection comes at a crucial time for the association, as preparations for its long-awaited general elections have begun. However, the announcement of the election schedule on November 12, a day after Hema Raju submitted his representation, has further intensified the disagreement.
The association’s electoral process has now become a point of contention not merely over who should supervise the polls, but also over whether the organisation’s own rules are being followed. Hema Raju has maintained that the association’s Bye-laws clearly stipulate that persons associated with political activities should not be involved in the conduct of its elections. He has questioned the appointment of Tejeswar Rao in this context, citing alleged political associations and arguing that the Returning Officer must be free from any political influence or conflict of interest.
These allegations, however, have not been independently established. The objection also raises questions about whether Tejeswar Rao’s appointment was approved by the Executive Committee in accordance with the association’s governing rules. Hema Raju has said that several members have expressed reservations about the appointment, although the number of members supporting the objection has not been specified.
Nine-year gap
Adding to the significance of the present dispute is the claim that the Andhra Association has been unable to conduct its general elections for the past nine years. The prolonged gap has made the forthcoming polls particularly important for members seeking an elected leadership and greater participation in the organisation’s affairs.
For an association that represents a community with a longstanding presence in the islands, the question of who leads it and how that leadership is chosen carries significance beyond the office-bearers themselves. Its functioning is closely connected to the community’s collective identity, cultural activities and representation.
Telugu is among the major languages spoken in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The 2001 Census figures published on the UT Administration’s official website recorded Telugu speakers at 12.81 per cent of the island territory’s population, reflecting the community’s substantial presence in this culturally diverse region. Andaman & Nicobar Administration
Andhra Association has served as an organisational platform for members of the Telugu-speaking community, with its premises also being used for community-related activities and gatherings. For many members, such institutions are important spaces for maintaining cultural connections, social relationships and a shared sense of belonging far from their ancestral region.
Election schedule announced
Despite the objection submitted to the Deputy Commissioner on November 11, the Returning Officer issued an official election notification on November 12, setting the following schedule:
| Election process | Date |
| Final electoral roll | November 27, 2026 |
| Filing of nominations | December 1–11 |
| Scrutiny of nominations | December 13 |
| Withdrawal of candidates | December 15 |
| Final list of candidates | December 17 |
| Polling | December 27 |
| Counting and declaration of results | December 27 |
The decision to proceed with the election notification, even as the objection remains pending, has become another point of disagreement. Hema Raju has urged the Deputy Commissioner and competent authorities to examine the representation before allowing the process to move further.
Calls for intervention
In his representation, Hema Raju has sought the immediate examination of the objections, withdrawal of the present Returning Officer’s appointment if the allegations and procedural irregularities are established, and appointment of a fresh, independent officer.
He has also requested that further election proceedings be kept in abeyance until the objections are examined and a decision is formally communicated. He maintains that the elections must be conducted strictly in accordance with the association’s Constitution and Bye-laws.
Emphasising that the objection is not against holding elections, Hema Raju has said that members support a democratic process but want it to be free from political influence, favouritism and procedural irregularities.
The unfolding dispute has placed the Andhra Association at a critical juncture. After an alleged nine-year absence of general elections, members are now faced with a disagreement over the very process intended to restore an elected leadership.
Whether the authorities intervene, whether the Returning Officer’s appointment is reconsidered, and whether the December 27 polling proceeds as scheduled remain to be seen. For the wider Telugu community, the larger expectation is that the differences will be resolved through a transparent process that protects the association’s institutional credibility and brings its members together rather than deepening divisions.
The allegations regarding political affiliation, the interpretation of the Bye-laws and procedural irregularities are based on Hema Raju’s representation and have not been independently verified. The response of the Returning Officer was not available at the time of publication.
