Published Nov 10, 2026 | 6:31 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 10, 2026 | 6:31 PM
Polling for the MPTC and ZPTC seats across Andhra Pradesh was held on 5 November.
Synopsis: The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission has scheduled indirect elections to the president and vice-president posts in 659 Mandal Praja Parishads on 19 November and to the chairperson and vice-chairperson posts in 28 Zilla Praja Parishads on 20 November. Elected MPTC and ZPTC members will choose the parishad heads. Voting will be by a show of hands under party whips.
The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) has issued notifications for the indirect elections of presidents and vice-presidents of Mandal Praja Parishads (MPPs) and chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of Zilla Praja Parishads (ZPPs). The elections will be held on 19 November for 659 MPPs and on 20 November for 28 ZPPs, with special meetings convened in the respective parishads.
The SEC issued the two notifications and a set of procedural instructions on Tuesday, 10 November. The elections will complete the process of constituting the governing bodies of the Mandal and Zilla Parishads following the MPTC and ZPTC polls.
Polling for the MPTC and ZPTC seats across Andhra Pradesh was held on 5 November. Cyclone-related disruption forced the postponement of polling in one mandal in East Godavari district and four mandals in Eluru district to 6 November.
Following reports of electoral irregularities during the 5 November polling, repolling was also held on 6 November at seven polling stations in five districts. Counting for all MPTC and ZPTC seats was taken up on 7 November, and the results were declared.
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The elected MPTC members will elect one among themselves as MPP president and another as vice-president. Similarly, the elected ZPTC members will elect the ZPP chairperson and vice-chairperson from among themselves.
The election of co-option members will take place before the election of the presidents and vice-presidents. Each MPP will have one co-option member, while each ZPP will have two. These positions are reserved for members of religious or linguistic minority communities.
Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis fall under the religious minority category. Those whose mother tongue is a language other than Telugu are recognised as linguistic minorities. The provisions will be implemented in accordance with G.O. Ms. No. 131, issued on 11 March 1995.
The reservations for MPP president and ZPP chairperson posts have already been announced. Only members belonging to the respective reserved categories can contest these posts.
For positions reserved for SC, ST and BC women, eligible women members from the respective communities can contest irrespective of whether they were elected from a seat reserved for women of that category, a general reserved seat, an unreserved seat for women or an unreserved seat.
Polling will be conducted through a show of hands. Elected members must vote in accordance with the whip issued by their recognised political parties.
However, the SEC has clarified that political parties cannot issue a whip for the election of co-option members.
The SEC has prescribed a procedure for disqualification proceedings against members who defy their party whip.
The party-appointed whip must submit a written complaint to the presiding officer within three days of the election, naming the member who violated the whip. The presiding officer must then issue a show-cause notice to the member, who will have seven days to submit an explanation.
The SEC has directed that notices for the special meetings be served on all elected MPTC and ZPTC members on or before 14 November. The meetings will be held on 19 November for MPP elections and 20 November for ZPP elections.
Members of Parliament, Members of the Legislative Assembly and Members of the Legislative Council who are ex-officio members of the respective parishads will attend the special meetings.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
