NDA Sweeps Andhra Municipal Polls, YS Jagan Alleges Poll Irregularities

The ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), comprising the TDP, Jana Sena Party and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has registered a sweeping victory in Andhra Pradesh's municipal elections, consolidating its political presence across urban local bodies and delivering significant setbacks to the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). The alliance secured victories in several key municipalities, made inroads into traditional YSRCP strongholds and recorded impressive performances in major municipal corporations.

The elections covered 92 urban local bodies, comprising 13 municipal corporations and 79 municipalities and Nagar Panchayats. Polling was held on November 1, with counting beginning on November 3. Revised voter turnout stood at 62.16 per cent, with 60,22,411 votes polled out of 96,89,061 registered voters. At 9 pm on counting day, the NDA had secured 2,771 wards against 451 for the YSRCP, while results for another 648 wards were awaited.

The Jana Sena Party recorded significant victories, with Reddy Appalanaidu winning the Eluru mayoral contest. Its supported candidates also won in Narsapuram, Puttaparthi, Nidadavole, Tuni, Tenali, Samalkot, Pithapuram, Gollaprolu and Amalapuram. Party sources claimed a 100 per cent strike rate in 12 municipal-level contests.

TDP candidates registered impressive victories across the state. Mannem Srinivasa Prasad (JB) won Tirupati's mayoral election, while Barre Ilayaraja secured Nuzvid with a majority of 4,015 votes. Trivendra Naidu won Penugonda by 6,353 votes, Gundlupalli Sriramakumar secured Madanapalle with 9,062 votes and Parise Sudhakar Naidu won Dharmavaram by 6,185 votes. Pitla Suhasini won Sullurpet by 8,784 votes, while Vijayalakshmi Kanthamneni secured Kovvur with 9,668 votes.

One of the most significant developments was the TDP's breakthrough in Pulivendula, traditionally considered a YS family stronghold. TDP candidate Thugutla Geethakumari defeated YSRCP candidate YS Prameelamma by 13,875 votes. The alliance secured 37 of the 40 wards. In Badvel, the TDP won all 40 wards, 39 unopposed and one through polling. The alliance also swept Yerraguntla with all 28 seats.

However, the YSRCP retained important pockets of support. Its biggest victory came in Nandikotkur, where candidate S. Fathima Bee won the municipal chairperson election by 2,634 votes. The party captured 23 of the 32 wards, while the TDP secured nine. It also won four wards each in Narsapuram and Palasa-Kasibugga, two in Yemmiganur and individual wards in Tuni, Puttur, Nidadavole, Atmakur, Palakonda and Bobbili.

In Vijayawada, Jana Sena candidate Vangaveeti Radhakrishna established an early lead of 33,833 votes. In Visakhapatnam, TDP candidate Mukka Shravani led by 1,19,683 votes in a later counting update.

The elections witnessed controversies, with the SEC reporting around 40 incidents and 275 FIRs. Authorities deployed 47,817 personnel across 138 counting centres and installed 1,372 CCTV cameras. Cyclone Murasu-related rainfall delayed counting in parts of Prakasam and Bapatla districts.

Reacting to the results, Nara Lokesh described the mandate as a responsibility to serve people. TDP State president Palla Srinivasa Rao attributed the alliance's performance to public confidence in welfare, development and governance.

Meanwhile, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy accused Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, the police and the SEC of manipulating the electoral process. Listing his allegations, he stated: "Nomination: Hijacked! Scrutiny: Hijacked! Withdrawal: Hijacked! Polling agents: Obstructed or Pulled Out! Poll: Rigged! Poll percentage: Manipulated! Counting: Hijacked!" He alleged that candidates were selected rather than elected by the people, calling them "selections" instead of elections and demanding comprehensive electoral reforms.