Municipal Polls End Peacefully Across Three Districts with Varied Voter Turnout

Municipal elections concluded peacefully at 5 p.m. on Sunday across 12 urban local bodies in Chittoor, Annamayya, and Sri Sathya Sai districts under tight police security.

Voting Numbers And Trends

The combined electorate across the three districts stood at 8,25,981 voters, which included 4,21,314 women, 4,04,555 men, and 112 voters from other categories. Chittoor district had 3,23,855 voters, with Kuppam registering a 78 per cent turnout and Nagari recording 63 per cent. In Annamayya district, Madanapalle featured 1,16,958 voters who showed moderate early turnout before queues grew between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., while Punganur saw a 63 per cent turnout despite tensions during last month's nominations. Sri Sathya Sai district covered six urban local bodies with a combined 3,85,168 voters, including Hindupur, Dharmavaram, Kadiri, Puttaparthi, Penukonda, and Madakasira, with Penukonda reaching 63 per cent by 3 p.m.

Incidents And Security

Security officials closely monitored the polling process across all regions. Superintendent of Police S. Satish Kumar spent the day inspecting sensitive polling stations in Dharmavaram, while Superintendent of Police Dheeraj Kunubilli inspected stations in Madanapalle. In Chittoor, Superintendent of Police Tushar Dudi and Deputy SP J. Venkatanarayana monitored stations using web cameras, where 51 divisions were decided unanimously and nine divisions went to the polls alongside mayor elections. A minor incident occurred in Madanapalle when YSRCP municipal chairperson candidate Jinka Chalapathi tried to enter a ward 16/3 polling station with supporters, but the Quick Response Team intervened and moved him away without disrupting voting. MLA and actor Nandamuri Balakrishna and his wife Vasundara cast their votes around 9 a.m. in Hindupur.

Context

Urban local body elections decide local governance and civic administration for towns and cities in Andhra Pradesh. These polls are managed by state election authorities with heavy police deployment to ensure smooth voting in sensitive areas.