Clear weather helps smooth voting in Andhra Pradesh civic polls

Vizianagaram mayoral elections and civic polls across North Andhra started peacefully on Sunday, November 1, 2026, as clear skies relieved officials after the recent Arnab cyclone.

Voting Details

In Vizianagaram's Fort City, 229 polling stations were set up across 62 divisions. A total of 1,649 officials and staff monitored the process, alongside Collector S. Ramsundar Reddy and election observer Tej Bharat. Around 2.23 lakh voters will choose a new mayor from seven candidates. These include TDP nominee Avanapu Bhargavi, YSRCP candidate Kolagatla Sravani, and Congress nominee Boora Iswharya Lakshmi, along with candidates from the Bahujan Samaj Party, Aam Aadmi Party, and independents. Additionally, 169 corporator candidates are contesting the 62 divisions.

Political Battle

In previous elections, the YSR Congress Party won 48 out of 50 divisions. The current municipal expansion raised that count to 62. The YSRCP indirect election in 2021 made Vempadapu Vijaya Lakshmi the mayor. Meanwhile, TDP lost local body polls in 2021 but won the 2024 Assembly elections. TDP MLA Aditi Vijaya Lakshmi Gajapathi Raju defeated YSRCP leader Kolagatla Veerabhadra Swamy by 60,609 votes. Now, Mr. Veerabhadra Swamy is backing his daughter Kolagatla Sravani, who served as Deputy Mayor from 2021 to 2026. For the current polls, TDP is contesting 48 wards, alliance partner Jana Sena Party has ten divisions, and the BJP has four.

Other Districts

Elections also took place in Bobbili and Nellimarla civic bodies within Vizianagaram district. Bobbili had 69 polling stations and 497 staff members. Voting also started peacefully in flood-affected Ichchapuram and Palasa towns in Srikakulam district, as well as Salur, Parvatipuram, and Palakonda municipalities in Parvatipuram-Manyam district. Meanwhile, the Indian Express reports that Andhra Pradesh must brace for another approaching severe cyclone from the Bay of Bengal around November 2 and 3.

Context

Local body elections allow citizens to choose their municipal leaders, such as mayors and corporators, who manage civic services and local development. Clear weather is vital for such polling days because heavy rain or storms disrupt movement and lower voter turnout. Regional weather agencies actively monitor coastal storms to help administration teams prepare public safety measures during election schedules.