Andhra Pradesh civic polls highlights | Polling ends amid Pulivendula clashes; Jagan demands repoll

YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy stages a sit-in outside the Returning Officer’s office in Pulivendula on Sunday, demanding a repoll in the town over the violence. He alleged that his party’s polling agents had been denied entry into several booths.

Polling in Andhra Pradesh’s urban local body elections ended at 5 p.m. on Sunday (November 1, 2026). It was largely peaceful, barring clashes between the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in Pulivendula, the home turf of YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. Stones were thrown in some wards, and several vehicles were set on fire in the town hours before polling began.

Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy staged a sit-in outside the Returning Officer’s office in Pulivendula and demanded a repoll across the town. He left without casting his vote. State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha said he had sought a report from the Kadapa Collector. The police registered 275 FIRs over 40 incidents across the State, and any repoll will be held on November 2.

Turnout had reached 48.03% by 3 p.m. Smaller towns voted in larger numbers than the big cities; Visakhapatnam, the largest corporation, was the lowest at 39.72%. Votes will be counted on November 3.

The police have registered 275 FIRs in connection with 40 incidents during Sunday’s urban local body elections, State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha said on Sunday. Any repoll will be held on November 2. He has sought a report from the Kadapa Collector on Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s demand for a repoll across Pulivendula. Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy left the town without casting his vote.

Turnout stood at 48.03% at 3 p.m., against 63.30% in the 2021 elections. In Ward 55 of Vijayawada, polling was extended till 7.30 p.m. after a printing error in the ballot symbols of two candidates.

Polls across Andhra Pradesh's urban bodies ended largely peaceful with 48.03% turnout; Jagan demands repoll in Pulivendula amid sporadic violence.

The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) vice-president Kolanukonda Shivaji cited reports of TDP leaders, with the alleged support of police personnel, forcibly removing YSRCP leaders and polling agents from polling stations in Pulivendula. He said there were reports of polling agents being attacked with sticks and stones.

Demanding a comprehensive inquiry into all the incidents, he urged the State Election Commission to initiate stringent action against police officials found negligent and those responsible for the violence. “Every voter must be allowed to exercise their franchise freely and without fear,” he said.

The last voter walked into the polling station at Vasantabala English Medium School in Visakhapatnam’s Seethammadhara just before the police shut the gate at 5 p.m. on Sunday. Polling for Andhra Pradesh’s urban local body elections has ended.

Nearly half of Andhra Pradesh’s urban voters had cast their votes by 3 p.m. on Sunday. Turnout reached 48.03%, with 46.54 lakh of the 96.89 lakh voters at the polls, according to the State Election Commission.

Gudur in Kurnool district has seen the highest turnout so far, 73.96%, just ahead of Chimakurthy in Prakasam district at 73.64%. In ​​Pulivendula​​, 61.18% of voters had cast their votes.

Among the corporations, Machilipatnam is still ahead at 55.10%. Visakhapatnam remains the lowest of all the urban bodies at 39.72%, followed by Adoni at 40.11%, Nellore at 40.91% and Guntur at 40.99%. Vijayawada was at 41.80%.

Patnala Papayyamma, 86, makes it a point to vote in every election, despite the hardship of travelling to the polling station, her family members said. On Sunday, she was at the polling station in Ward 4 of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), set up at the office of the Superintendent of Central Tax, Bheemunipatnam, to cast her vote in the urban local body elections.

YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy staged a sit-in outside the Returning Officer’s office in Pulivendula on Sunday, demanding a repoll in the town.He alleged that YSRCP polling agents had been denied entry into several polling booths. He had gone to the office to raise the issue with the Returning Officer, but officials reportedly did not let him in. He then sat down outside in protest.

Jaya Kumar, 66, a senior citizen with ailments, made his way to the polling station at Chepala Thimmapuram, Ward 5, in Visakhapatnam on Sunday, leaning on a bamboo stick for support. At the compound, a wheelchair stood unoccupied beside the wall. The ramp, the usual access route for those unable to take the stairs, was packed with voters standing in the queue behind its handrails. Mr. Jaya Kumar was told by the staff on duty to walk around the building and use the stairs at the other end. The queue continued well past noon.

Andhra Pradesh’s overall turnout in the urban local body elections rose to 37.13% by 1 p.m. on Sunday, up from 22.08% at 11 a.m., according to the State Election Commission. About 35.97 lakh of the 96.89 lakh voters had cast their votes.

Kanigiri in Markapuram district recorded the highest turnout, 63.36%, though only two of its wards are voting. Jammalamadugu in Kadapa district, voting in all 32 wards, was close behind at 61.86%, followed by Nagari at 60.81%. ​Pulivendula, the scene of this morning’s clashes​, 51.51% had voted.

State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha and Secretary A. Mallikarjuna reviewed polling across the State through webcasting on Sunday. Some 13,500 CCTV cameras have been installed at polling stations, following the Supreme Court’s directions.

The YSRCP “seems to have come ‘well-prepared’ in Kadapa” while the rest of the State is voting peacefully, Minister Nara Lokesh said in a post on X on Sunday. The election authorities would deal with “criminal elements”, he said, urging voters to turn out in large numbers.

Turnout in Kadapa district’s urban bodies stood at 25.46% by 11 a.m., above the State average of 22.08%, according to the State Election Commission’s figures. Jammalamadugu recorded 60.92% and Pulivendula 35.17%. Kadapa city, the district’s only corporation, was at 18.54%.

YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy accused the State Election Commission of failing to ensure a level playing field in the municipal elections and of siding with the ruling NDA government. Speaking to reporters in Pulivendula on Sunday (November 1, 2026), he said the SEC should give every candidate a fair chance from nominations to counting. “Only then it will be termed as an election,” he said.

He alleged that journalists had been beaten up and their cameras destroyed in Pulivendula. Polling agents were not allowed into polling stations, he claimed. The Centre should step in even though the TDP is its ally, he said. “If today an NDA partner is permitted to do so and the central government chooses to ignore it, then democracy will not prevail.”

Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy flew into Pulivendula by helicopter on Sunday, in what was termed an “emergency landing”. He had reportedly been given permission to arrive on Saturday. The district administration, busy with the polls, had expressed difficulty in providing security.

Former Chief Minister and Pulivendula MLA Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy arrived in his constituency on Sunday morning, while voting was under way in the town’s municipal elections. He reportedly took out a roadshow, which TDP workers objected to. The TDP has accused him of violating the Model Code of Conduct. The YSRCP said he had come to cast his vote and that people walked alongside him in support.

Shaik Dastagiri, an accused-turned-approver in the Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy murder case, confronted Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s convoy on a busy road, causing tension. Mr. Dastagiri, known for his rivalry with the Y.S. family, reportedly shouted at him during the brief encounter.

Supporters of YSRCP Mayor candidate Varudu Kalyani got into an argument with TDP workers in Ward 29 of Visakhapatnam’s East Assembly constituency on Sunday. It happened while Ms. Kalyani was returning after casting her vote at a polling station in the area. The police stepped in quickly and asked both groups to leave. - Harish Gilai

About 21.40 lakh of Andhra Pradesh’s 96.89 lakh urban voters had cast their votes by 11 a.m. on Sunday, a turnout of 22.08%, according to the State Election Commission. Smaller towns are well ahead of cities. Jammalamadugu in Kadapa district leads the State at 60.92%, followed by Kuppam at 44.30% and Nagari at 40.46%. In Pulivendula, the scene of clashes this morning, 35.17% had voted.

YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is on a visit to Pulivendula in Kadapa district on Sunday, where municipal polling is under way. The TDP has accused him of taking part in a roadshow in alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct.​​​​

Polling picked up in Visakhapatnam through the morning. Turnout rose from 3.34% at 9 a.m. to 13.34% by 11 a.m. on Sunday, according to election officials. Of the city’s 18.37 lakh voters, 2,45,251 had voted by then.

Only 3.34% of Visakhapatnam’s voters had cast their votes by 9 a.m. on Sunday, the lowest among the State’s 13 corporations. Of 18.38 lakh voters, 61,309 had voted. Madhurawada zone recorded the highest turnout at 5.87%, followed by Anakapalli at 5.18%. The South Assembly constituency was the lowest at 1.81%.

Vizag GVMC elections open with 3.34% turnout in first two hours; urban areas slower, with police security and active voter mobilization underway.

Stones were thrown in wards 11 and 12 of Pulivendula on Sunday. TDP and YSRCP workers pushed and jostled each other in several other wards.

The police chased away the fighting groups in places such as Islampuram. YSRCP workers accused the police of driving away their voters.

Voters had started queuing at 7 a.m. Hours earlier, around midnight, three cars, 10 motorcycles and a tractor were set on fire near an orchard belonging to one Madhusudhan Reddy. The police said it was not yet known who was behind it.

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Several vehicles were set on fire in Pulivendula town, few hours before the municipal elections began on Saturday (November 1) morning.

The incident happened around midnight near the orchard belonging to one Madhusudhan Reddy, where three cars, ten motorcycles and a tractor were fully burnt.

It is not, however, immediately known who could have resorted to the extreme act, the police said.

Meanwhile, polling began at a brisk pace in the town in various wards, with voters standing in queues right from 7 a.m.

Cadres belonging to the TDP and YSRCP resorted to pushing and jostling in several wards, causing mild tension.

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Greater Visakhapatnam recorded the lowest voter turnout among the 13 municipal corporations by 9 a.m.

In Punganur, where nomination filing had been marred by violence, turnout stood at 14.41%, while Vijayawada recorded 7.79%.

Polling in Ward 11 of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) began peacefully on Sunday (November 1, 2026). Around 300 voters had cast their votes at the polling station at the Mandal Parishad Primary School in Gollalapalem in the first hour after polling began at 7 a.m., according to Booth Level Officers (BLOs) S. Srinivas and N. Nageswarao, who were overseeing the process and guiding voters.

Peaceful polling begins in Ward 11, Madhurawada, GVMC, with orderly turnout, voter amenities, and no incidents.

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State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha said at a polling station in DAV Public School, Ibrahimpatnam, that polling across the State has so far been peaceful.

In connection with the Second Ordinary Municipal Elections–2026, an error was identified in the printing of election symbols allotted to two candidates in Division 55, RR Peta area, under the jurisdiction of Vijayawada Municipal Corporation.

The division has a total of 8,881 voters, and 9 polling stations have been set up.

VMC rectifies printing error in party symbols for Division 55 RR Peta, assures corrective measures and 9 a.m. polling initiation.

Polling began at 7 a.m. at all polling stations in the Chirala and Repalle municipalities of Bapatla district on Sunday. Voters are exercising their franchise, while officials are monitoring the polling process across the district through webcasting from the Collectorate.

Polling across 36 polling stations in Repalle Municipality in Bapatla district recorded a voter turnout of 13.5% between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Sunday.

Polling across the polling stations in all 44 wards of Chirala Municipality in Bapatla district recorded a voter turnout of 10% between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Sunday.

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10.56% voting has been registered in the elections to the four local bodies in Kurnool district by 9 a.m. In Kurnool Municipal Corporation (KMC), 11.15% polling was registered while 11.97 % electorate cast their vote in Yemmiganur municipality. In Adoni municipality, 8.50% polling was registered, while in Gudur nagar panchayat, the polling percentage stood at 8.49.

Polling for the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) elections began on a peaceful note on Sunday, with several polling stations, particularly in semi-urban areas, witnessing a good turnout in the morning hours, while voter participation in the core urban areas was yet to gather momentum. The overall polling percentage stood at only 3.34% in the first two hours, indicating a relatively slow start across the city.

Polling for the municipal elections began peacefully in Guntur district on Sunday, police informed. District Superintendent of Police Vakul Jindal visited several polling stations in the morning to inspect the polling process and security arrangements.

The SP visited polling stations set up at Mahaveer College within the limits of Lalapet police station, Muslim College on Ponnur Road, Anki Reddypalem High School and NGO Colony School to review the conduct of the elections.

During his visits, he reviewed police security arrangements, the movement of voters and the law and order situation at the polling stations. He instructed police officers and personnel to remain alert until the completion of the elections and ensure that voters could exercise their franchise freely without fear or pressure.

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Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh recorded voter turnout of 11.06% till 9 a.m.

Palnadu district, Andhra Pradesh, recorded voter turnout of 11.77% by 9 a.m.

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Polling for the Guntur Municipal Corporation elections recorded a turnout of 5.21% by 9 a.m.

A total of 32,237 voters had exercised their franchise by then, according to Commissioner and Additional Election Authority K. Mayur Ashok.

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Polling began peacefully in four municipalities across Palnadu district on Sunday.

Voters are arriving at polling stations to exercise their franchise. Election personnel have made the necessary arrangements at the polling stations to ensure smooth polling.

Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place across the district to prevent any untoward incidents and ensure peaceful polling.

Urban local body elections in Chittoor, Annamayya and Sri Sathya Sai districts began peacefully on Sunday, with voter turnout showing different trends across the three districts. Chittoor witnessed a huge turnout, while polling was moderate in Annamayya and slow in Sri Sathya Sai district during the early hours.

Voters turned up in large numbers at polling stations in Chittoor, showing keen interest in choosing their municipal representatives. In Annamayya district, the response was moderate, while polling centres in Sri Sathya Sai district witnessed a relatively slow flow of voters.

Peaceful urban local body polls begin across Chittoor, Annamayya, and Sri Sathya Sai districts with varied early turnout and heightened security.

Clear weather is expected to ensure decent turnout in Vizianagaram mayoral elections, which began peacefully on Sunday (November 1, 2026). As many as 229 polling stations have been set up across 62 divisions in the Fort City. A total of 1649 officials and staff have been monitoring the election process. Collector S.Ramsundar Reddy and election observer Tej Bharat have been monitoring the election process in Vizianagaram as well as other parts of the district. The district officials heaved a sigh of relief with the clear skies on Sunday as the district was badly affected by the impact of the recent Arnab cyclone.

Clear weather boosts expected voter turnout in Vizianagaram and North Andhra civic polls across 229 polling stations and 62 divisions.

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The State Election Commission (SEC) is geared up to conduct elections to 100 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), comprising 13 Municipal Corporations and 87 Municipalities and Nagar Panchayats, on November 1. Polling was originally scheduled for October 28 but was deferred following directions from the Supreme Court after violent incidents prevented several candidates from filing their nominations. As part of seat adjustments, the Mayoral posts of the Greater Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada Municipal Corporations were allotted to the TDP and Jana Sena Party, respectively.

SEC gears up for 100 ULB elections on Nov 1 with heightened security, drones, CCTV, observers, and contingency controls.

After days of hectic political activity and violent incidents during the filing of nominations, the stage is set for elections to 92 urban local bodies (ULBs) in Andhra Pradesh on November 1. The elections will be held in 13 Municipal Corporations and 79 of the 87 Municipalities and Nagar Panchayats.

Stage set for November 1 polls in 92 Andhra Pradesh urban local bodies with 3,073 candidates across 804 corporation wards and 2,382 municipality/nagar panchayat wards.

All arrangements have been completed for municipal polls across the southern districts of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday. The respective district administrations, police authorities, polling staff and and micro-observers are ready to conduct the elections in a peaceful, free, and fair manner.

All arrangements are ready for Sunday’s municipal polls across south Andhra Pradesh, with security, accessibility, and voter support measures in place.

Andhra Pradesh / election / Andhra Pradesh Local Body Elections 2026 / voting / state politics / politics (general) / Live news / Vijayawada