AP MPTC, ZPTC Elections Postponed to November 5, Counting on 7

The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) has revised the schedule for the MPTC and ZPTC general elections, postponing polling from November 3 to November 5. State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha announced that the counting of votes will be held on November 7, following changes necessitated by the revised schedule for urban local body elections.

The decision comes after the Supreme Court's directions led to an extension of the nomination deadline in four urban local bodies, allowing candidates who reportedly faced obstruction during the nomination process an additional opportunity to file their papers. The changes affected the election timetable, with counting for the urban local bodies scheduled for November 3.

Holding the MPTC and ZPTC polls on the same day as the municipal vote counting could create logistical challenges, particularly in deploying police personnel and polling staff. To avoid a shortage of personnel and ensure the smooth conduct of both election-related activities, the SEC decided to reschedule the rural local body elections.

Under the revised timetable, polling will take place on November 5 from 7 AM to 5 PM across the designated constituencies. If repolling becomes necessary, it will be conducted on November 6, between 7 AM and 5 PM. The counting of votes is scheduled to begin at 8 AM on November 7, and results will be announced after the counting process is completed.

The commission has also announced special polling arrangements for agency areas, where voting hours will be shorter due to local conditions and security considerations.

A total of 88 polling stations across two districts will follow the revised timings. Of these, 44 are located in 10 mandals of Alluri Sitarama Raju district, while another 44 are spread across seven mandals of Polavaram district.