MPTC/ZPTC elections: clashes erupt between YSRCP, TDP activists in Kadapa

SP Shelke Nachiket Vishwanath inspecting the security arrangements near a polling station at ZP High School in Vemula mandal of Kadapa district on Thursday.

Clashes broke out between the YSRCP and the TDP activists at several areas of Kadapa district on Thursday morning (November 5, 2026) during the MPTC and ZPTC elections.

According to sources, a quarrel broke out between the agents of YSRCP and TDP near a polling station in Yerripalli village, Pulivendla mandal, of the district. The groups engaged in heated arguments, and allegedly some of them hurled petrol bombs. None were injured in the clash.

Speaking to The Hindu, Pulivendla Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Murali Nayak stated, “The activists of both parties used firecrackers, which were brought to celebrate after victory, to attack each other. They took out petrol from their bikes to escalate the fight. However, the police controlled them within five minutes.”

Such incidents also took place near polling stations in R. Thummalapalli and Parnapalli villages in Pulivendula mandal, but the police immediately calmed down the situation in these areas, he added.

The clashes reportedly occurred after Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy toured those polling stations. The TDP workers alleged that the YSRCP leader encouraged his party cadre to incite violence with the fear of failure in the ZPTC/MPTC elections.

Not only in Pulivendula, stone pelting and other violent incidents were reported in Gundlakunta village in Jammalamadugu constituency and Nandalur village in Rajampeta division. The clashes were also witnessed in Chintarajupalli, Railway Kodur, and Badvel areas.

Superintendent of Police Shelke Nachiket Vishwanath visited the polling stations in Vemula mandal and inspected the security arrangements on the ground. He instructed the police personnel to remain vigilant and ensure that the elections are conducted in a peaceful and impartial manner.

The polling commenced in the district from 7 a.m. and concluded by 6.30 p.m.. Special security arrangements were made at 167 highly sensitive, 134 sensitive, and five problematic polling stations. Except few areas, the voting was peaceful with 71.78% turnout.

District Collector Dr. Sridhar Cherukuri said, “Out of a total 4.56 lakh voters across the district, 3.27 lakh exercised their right to vote. For the 16 ZPTC seats, 3.12 lakh out of 4.32 lakh eligible voters cast their votes, resulting in a voter turnout of 72.15%. In the polling held for 55 MPTC seats, 2.06 lakh out of 3 lakh voters cast their votes, recording a turnout of 68.74%.