Andhra Pradesh Urban Body Elections Conclude Amid Clashes and Demands for Repoll

UPDATE - follow-up to A.P. civic polls largely peaceful; Jagan demands repoll in Pulivendula after clashes: Voting for 13 municipal corporations and 79 municipalities and nagar panchayats in Andhra Pradesh concluded largely without major law and order issues, though sporadic violence broke out in parts of the Rayalaseema and Palnadu regions.

Polling Figures

The State Election Commission recorded an overall voter turnout of 48.03 percent by 3 p.m., which is lower than the 63.30 percent turnout seen during the 2021 elections. Voting in Ward No. 55 of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation was extended by two and a half hours until 7.30 p.m. to fix a printing error involving election symbols for two candidates.

Protests and Violence

Incidents of stone-pelting between cadres of the TDP and the YSRCP, along with the burning of several vehicles, were reported in Pulivendula. YSRCP president and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, alongside Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy, staged a protest in Pulivendula over alleged electoral malpractices and the blocking of party agents from entering polling booths. Mr. Jagan demanded a repoll across the Pulivendula municipality and left the area without casting his vote. Mild tension also arose when Sk. Dastagiri, an accused in the murder of former MP Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy, confronted Mr. Jagan as the YSRCP chief headed to the Returning Officer's office.

Official Response

State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha stated in Vijayawada that he sought a report from the District Collector regarding Mr. Jagan's demand for a repoll. A decision on fresh polling will depend on formal requests from the Collector or Superintendent of Police backed by evidence. The police department registered 275 FIRs regarding 40 separate incidents. Mr. Punetha noted that any required repolling would take place on November 2, and mentioned that the commission managed elections using available local manpower without external observers.

Context

Urban local body elections in India are conducted by independent State Election Commissions to elect representatives for local municipal corporations and town councils. These polls frequently see high political contestation at the grassroots level, leading to localized clashes between rival party workers.