Counting Begins for Andhra Pradesh ZPTC and MPTC Elections with Heavy Police Presence

Counting

Counting of votes for 577 Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies and 7,707 Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies started at 8 a.m. on Saturday, 7 November 2026. The process was set up in 365 designated centres across the state and is being overseen by State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha along with other senior officials.

Security

Nearly 19,885 police personnel from various units were deployed to guard the strongrooms and polling stations. Authorities warned of possible clashes between supporters of the main parties, prompting the large security detail.

Incident

In East Godavari district, at Damanthunigidem Panchayat of Devarapalli Mandal, 28‑year‑old Jana Sena Party MPTC hopeful Garapati Divya suffered a cardiac arrest and died a few hours before the count began.

Context

Election counting in Andhra Pradesh is traditionally closely watched, and the presence of thousands of police reflects past instances of post‑poll tension. The death of a candidate adds a human‑interest angle to an otherwise procedural event.