Visakhapatnam ZP gears up for local polls amid complex bifurcation

The five-year tenure of the Visakhapatnam Zilla Parishad (ZP) is set to conclude on September 24, prompting the district administration to undertake a large-scale logistical and structural exercise in preparation for the upcoming Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) and Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) elections.

The exercise is complicated by the administrative bifurcation of rural jurisdictions following the State's reorganisation of district boundaries. Assets, staff, and geographical zones that were earlier part of a unified rural administrative setup are now being systematically divided across the newly formed districts of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, and Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR), in accordance with Presidential orders.

The Visakhapatnam Zilla Praja Parishad has been in existence since November 1, 1959, when the three-tier Panchayat Raj system was introduced on the recommendations of the Balwantrai Mehta Committee. The current reorganisation marks a significant departure from that historical structure, as each new district will have its own Zilla Parishad.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu recently held a meeting related to the local body elections, while the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission has also engaged with district collectors on the matter. Visakhapatnam ZP CEO P. Narayana Murthy told The Hindu that pre-preparatory work for the elections has begun. "If the Visakhapatnam Zilla Parishad bifurcates then Visakhapatnam will have four mandals, ASR 11 mandals and Anakapalli 24 mandals. Each district will have their own Zilla Parishads," he said.

Alongside the division of territory, the administration is working on updating voter lists, enforcing reservation mandates — including the 34 per cent quota for Backward Classes (BCs), as well as provisions for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) — and conducting audits of polling station infrastructure. These tasks must be completed before poll notifications are issued.

In addition, steps are being taken to appoint Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Deputy CEOs for the newly formed district parishads. A senior CEO-rank official at Anakapalli district said the staffing challenge is manageable. "Currently around 77 CEO rank officials are available across different departments on deputation in the region. So filling the CEO post for Zilla Parishad is not a big issue," the official said.

The reorganisation of the ZPTC framework is expected to bring governance closer to the grassroots. By replacing larger, sprawling administrative units with more compact district parishads, the government aims to streamline rural development and make administration more responsive to local needs. The process, however, requires careful coordination among the three districts to ensure a smooth transition before the elections.

Political parties are already intensifying their grassroots mobilisation as election logistics, including ballot paper distribution and polling centre readiness, are being streamlined. ZPTC and MPTC members play a crucial indirect role in electing higher-tier leadership, such as ZP chairpersons. With the administrative map newly drawn, the rural electoral contest is expected to be keenly watched across the three districts.