Protest disrupts counting at university as former MLA demands ZPTC recount

Counting at Adikavi Nannaya University was halted when former legislator Jakkampudi Raja, accompanied by supporters of the YSR Congress, staged a sit‑in demanding a fresh count of votes in the Korukonda ZPTC seat. The demand came after the Telugu Desam Party candidate pulled ahead by a wide margin in the fourth round, overturning the YSR Congress lead that had held after the first three rounds. Police arrested Raja and the demonstrators and the tally resumed. Across the Godavari region, officials kept counting ZPTC ballots at all centres until 9 p.m., with police deployed to deter any disturbances. In the parallel MPTC race, the National Democratic Alliance partners – the Telugu Desam Party and the Jana Sena Party – emerged victorious in a large number of wards. Election officials warned the winning candidates against holding public victory rallies to avoid flare‑ups in the area. The tension reflects the high stakes of local body elections in East Godavari, where control of ZPTC and MPTC seats can influence district‑level governance. ## Context Local body elections in Andhra Pradesh often see close contests between the YSR Congress and the TDP‑led alliance, and recount demands are not uncommon when results swing sharply between counting rounds.