Andhra Pradesh announces local body poll schedule; voting from October 28

Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha on Wednesday announced the schedule for elections to urban local bodies (ULBs), Mandal and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs and ZPTCs), and Gram Panchayats (GPs). With the announcement, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into force across the State, barring the government from launching new welfare schemes and development projects. The election process is scheduled to be completed by December 2, 2026.

Mr. Punetha made the announcement at a media conference, accompanied by Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration P. Sampath Kumar and Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission Secretary A. Mallikarjuna.

The Commission has issued notifications for 100 of the State's 123 ULBs. These include 13 Municipal Corporations — Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) and the civic bodies in Vizianagaram, Eluru, Machilipatnam, Guntur, Ongole, Nellore, Tirupati, Chittoor, Kadapa, Kurnool and Anantapuram — along with 87 Municipalities or Nagar Panchayats. Notifications for the remaining 23 ULBs, comprising four Municipal Corporations and 19 Municipalities or Nagar Panchayats, will be issued in due course.

For the ULBs, Returning Officers and Election Officers will publish election notices on October 16. Nominations may be filed by October 18 and will be scrutinised on October 19. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is October 21. In the case of ULBs, appeals cannot be filed against the rejection of nominations. Polling will be held on October 28 and results will be declared on October 30.

For MPTC and ZPTC elections, notifications will be issued on October 19 and 21. Nominations will be submitted by October 23 and scrutinised on October 24. Appeals against the rejection of nominations may be filed on October 25 and will be disposed of by October 26. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is October 27. Polling will be held on November 3 and results will be declared on November 5.

Gram Panchayat elections will be conducted in three phases, on November 26 and 29 and December 2, with results declared on the same days. Indirect elections for Sarpanches and Upa-Sarpanches will also be held in phases. Notifications for these will be issued on November 13, 16 and 19, and notices will be served on members on or before November 26, 29 and December 2. Special meetings will follow on November 26 or 27, November 29 or 30, and December 2 or 3 for the three phases respectively.

Mr. Punetha said the elections would be conducted on the basis of the existing voter lists, duly incorporating changes as on the date of filing nominations, as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is yet to be completed.

He said the departments concerned had been instructed to issue caste and no-dues certificates to candidates within 24 hours. The Commission is laying emphasis on "unanimous elections", given the scope for manipulation, he added.

Local body elections decide representation at the municipal and panchayat levels, where councils and panchayats are responsible for civic services such as water supply, sanitation, roads and local infrastructure. The Model Code of Conduct, which remains in force until the election process is completed, generally restrains governments and candidates from actions that could influence voters, while routine administrative work continues.