Published Sep 10, 2026 | 6:22 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 10, 2026 | 6:30 PM
Local body polls
Synopsis: Elections are due to be held for gram panchayats, ZPTCs and MPTCs, as well as municipalities and municipal corporations across the state. With the High Court giving the green signal for the delimitation of wards in urban areas, the government has begun making arrangements for conducting the elections.
The Andhra Pradesh government is planning to complete the local body elections by the end of October, and preparations have begun for the same.
Elections are due to be held for gram panchayats, ZPTCs (Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency) and MPTCs (Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency), as well as municipalities and municipal corporations across the state. With the High Court giving the green signal for the delimitation of wards in urban areas, the government has begun making arrangements for conducting the elections.
Since the release of funds from the Central Finance Commission is linked to the conduct of elections, the government is keen to complete the process within the stipulated timeframe. The Municipal Administration Department will begin the reservation process for Urban Local Body (ULB) elections from September 8. Ward-wise reservations will be finalised between September 8 and 12. As the government has decided to conduct direct elections for the post of Mayor, it wants to complete the reservation process at the earliest.
Under the new rules, the Mayor of municipal corporations and the Chairperson of municipalities and nagar panchayats will be directly elected by the people. Municipal corporations will have one Deputy Mayor, while municipalities and nagar panchayats will have only one Vice-Chairperson. The Deputy Mayor and Vice-Chairperson will continue to be elected indirectly.
The process of identifying voters for SC, ST, BC and women’s reservations will be taken up in 59 urban local bodies. Municipal Administration Department Secretary Suresh Kumar said reservations are being finalised for 58 municipalities and nagar panchayats, along with the Vizianagaram Municipal Corporation.
Electoral rolls for 41 urban local bodies in the state are expected to be published within another week. The reservation process and other election-related activities will be taken up thereafter. In the case of 23 urban local bodies where matters are pending before the High Court, delimitation, preparation of electoral rolls and the election process will be taken up after the court issues its directions.
The electoral rolls, reservation process and other statutory procedures will be completed in coordination with the State Election Commission and the district administration.
The state government is currently giving priority to elections in urban areas as part of the overall local body election process in Andhra Pradesh.
The state is facing severe rainfall deficits this year due to the impact of a super El Niño. Kharif cultivation has also declined across the state, while farmers are waiting for adequate irrigation water. Although the situation is relatively better in the Krishna and Godavari delta regions, water releases have not taken place on a full scale. Against this backdrop, there are differing views within the government and administration on conducting elections in rural areas.
Meanwhile, surveys have reportedly identified dissatisfaction among people over issues such as the sanction of new pensions and the implementation of election promises. Against this backdrop, the government is considering sanctioning new pensions before proceeding with elections in rural areas. The application schedule for the issuance of new pensions has already been initiated accordingly.
The government reportedly believes that conducting urban local body elections first, followed by elections in rural areas, would provide an opportunity to assess the public response. With several court cases also expected to conclude, the government is stepping up preparations for urban local body elections.
The next phase is expected to focus on elections to gram panchayats, ZPTCs and other rural local bodies.
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