NDA Ahead in All 13 Andhra Pradesh Corporations as Cyclone Rains Slow Vote Counting

UPDATE - follow-up to Andhra Pradesh civic polls result LIVE | TDP takes early lead; HC clears Pulivendula count; rain, missing keys delay counting: The ruling National Democratic Alliance is ahead in all 13 municipal corporations across Andhra Pradesh as vote counting continues for 92 urban local bodies.

Vote Counting and Trends

Counting began on Tuesday for 3,186 wards across 138 centres after the urban local bodies went to the polls on November 1 with a voter turnout of 62.16 percent. The ruling NDA, which includes the Telugu Desam Party, the Jana Sena Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party, holds an early lead in all 13 municipal corporations, reversing the 2021 results when the opposition YSR Congress Party won all 13. In Tirupati, TDP Mayor candidate Manne Srinivasa Prasad leads with 23,435 votes against YSRCP candidate Y. Vasudeva's 9,490 votes after two rounds. In Nellore, TDP candidate P. Roop Kumar Yadav leads YSRCP's Anam Vijaya Kumar Reddy by 18,393 votes. In Visakhapatnam, NDA candidate Mukka Sravani leads YSRCP candidate Varudu Kalyani by 38,677 votes. In Narsipatnam, TDP candidate Chintakayala Padmavathi leads YSRCP candidate Chintakayala Anita by 2,647 votes.

Cyclone Impact and Delays

Severe cyclonic storm Murasu brought steady rain and strong winds to Vijayawada from Monday midnight, slowing the vote-counting process in NTR district. Vijayawada received between 52 mm and 64 mm of rain, while Nandigama recorded 65.5 mm. Out of five urban bodies in the district, only Jaggayyapeta results are out, with the TDP winning 24 of 36 wards. Cyclone rain and winds also delayed counting in Ongole until noon, while some staff faced travel difficulties reaching counting centres in Nellore. Nellore District Collector Himanshu Shukla stated that while the first round took 90 minutes, subsequent rounds will take 60 minutes with final results expected by 6 pm.

Pulivendula and Allegations

The TDP is set to win Pulivendula, where Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy's family held sway for four decades, after the High Court dismissed YSRCP petitions seeking a repoll. TDP candidates won 20 of 40 wards unanimously, and TDP chairperson candidate T. Geeta Kumari leads Y.S. Prameelamma by 6,325 votes. YSRCP chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy accused the police and State Election Commission of manipulating the process and obstructing opposition candidates. Additionally, cases were registered against 72 YSRCP leaders, including Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy and Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy, for Model Code of Conduct violations during Sunday's polls.

Context

Urban local body elections in Andhra Pradesh determine the political control of municipal corporations, municipalities, and nagar panchayats across the state. These local polls serve as a key indicator of grassroots political support between major state parties following assembly and general elections.