Clashes and 22 Percent Turnout Mark Andhra Urban Elections

UPDATE - follow-up to Andhra civic polls: TDP, YSRCP workers clash in Pulivendula; 22.08% turnout by 11 a.m. | LIVE: Workers of the Telugu Desam Party and the YSR Congress Party clashed in Pulivendula, throwing stones in wards 11 and 12 before police brought the situation under control. State-wide voting for 100 urban local bodies, 13 municipal corporations, and 87 municipalities began at 7 a.m. on Sunday and will close at 5 p.m., with votes counted on November 3.

Turnout and Voting

State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha stated that voting elsewhere has been largely peaceful. The overall voter turnout reached 22.08% by 11 a.m., with about 21.40 lakh people voting out of 96.89 lakh urban voters. Smaller towns are voting faster than big cities, with Jammalamadugu recording 60.92% and Visakhapatnam recording 13.34%. Eight municipalities and nagar panchayats saw no voting because their leaders were elected unopposed after polls were delayed by the Supreme Court.

Reactions and Allegations

Minister Nara Lokesh claimed on X that the YSRCP came well-prepared in Kadapa. Meanwhile, YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy accused the State Election Commission of siding with the ruling NDA government and failing to ensure a fair field. He also alleged that journalists were beaten up and polling agents were barred. Separately, a confrontation occurred when Shaika Dastagiri met Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy's convoy, and the TDP accused the former Chief Minister of violating the Model Code of Conduct through a roadshow.

Context

Urban local body elections in Andhra Pradesh decide the leadership and local governance of municipal bodies across districts like Kadapa and Visakhapatnam. These elections are conducted under the supervision of the State Election Commission with extensive security measures, including CCTV webcasting mandated by court directions.