# Over 5.9 Million Ballots Cast in Andhra Pradesh Urban Polls; 275 Cases Filed Ahead of November 3 Results

> Andhra Pradesh registered 60.96 percent polling across 92 urban civic bodies as 10,262 candidates contest municipal posts. Security forces lodged 275 police complaints following minor skirmishes, with the final ballot count set for November 3.

**Type:** article · **Category:** India · **Published:** 2026-11-02 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/national/andhra-pradesh-nikaya-chunava-men-59-lakha-se-adhika-vota-pare-275-prathamikiyon-ke-bicha-3-navnbara-ko-parinama-54843 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Andhra Pradesh, Civic Polls, Voting, Anil Chandra Punetha, Vijayawada, Vote Counting

Voters across 92 urban local bodies in Andhra Pradesh demonstrated strong democratic commitment on Sunday, establishing an overall turnout figure of 60.96 percent. The extensive polling exercise covered 13 municipal corporations alongside 79 municipalities and nagar panchayats scattered throughout the state. Official records reveal that out of 96,89,061 registered citizens, exactly 5,906,255 individuals cast their ballots at designated polling booths. While the polling procedure remained largely peaceful in most districts, minor regional disturbances prompted the state police force to register 275 first information reports.

## Contestants in the Fray and Ballot Count Date
A massive contingent of 10,262 contenders is vying for various leadership and ward-level positions across the urban civic map. The ultimate political fate of these candidates will be unsealed during the formal vote counting process scheduled for November 3. The election administration had set up 11,378 polling booths to cater to the 99.35 lakh eligible voters eligible to take part in this civic exercise.

At the highest civic tier, 153 aspirants entered the contest for the coveted post of mayor across 13 major municipal corporations. Concurrently, 367 contenders squared off to secure chairperson positions spanning 70 municipalities. When evaluating corporate ward seats, direct elections took place across 804 wards out of the total 922 demarcated seats, witnessing intense campaigning among 3,077 candidates. The remaining 118 ward representatives had already secured their council berths unopposed following the scrutiny and withdrawal stages.

## Technical Glitches Extend Polling in Vijayawada Ward 55
The voting schedule in Vijayawada Municipal Corporation ran into an unexpected snag at ward number 55, where proceedings were delayed by nearly two and a half hours owing to technical snags and operational complications. The administration stepped in promptly to protect voting access for local residents who had turned up in considerable numbers.

Following an urgent recommendation forwarded by the district collector, the state election commission formally pushed back the evening closing deadline from the standard 5:00 PM cutoff to 7:30 PM. This extension guaranteed that every citizen standing in line had an unimpeded opportunity to exercise their franchise despite the morning interruption.

## Commission Reviews Complaints and Holds 12-District Conference
Late on Sunday evening, top election officials convened a media briefing at the central election commission premises in Vijayawada. Addressing the press, State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha remarked, **"Every complaint has been taken seriously."** Commission Secretary A Mallikarjun and Inspector General of Police Raja Kumari were also present at the briefing table. Punetha disclosed that formal grievances had been submitted by different political factions alleging procedural lapses during polling hours.

Special administrative attention is being directed toward complaints originating from the districts of Kadapa, Anantapur, and Palnadu, where district collectors and superintendents of police have been directed to submit comprehensive inquiries. During the polling window, high-level authorities closely monitored law and order dynamics. Punetha held an intensive 45-minute teleconference with administrative heads representing 12 districts, including Kurnool, Chittoor, Nellore, Prakasam, Tirupati, Annamayya, Sri Sathya Sai, Kadapa, Palnadu, Nandyal, Markapuram, and Anantapur. The commissioner indicated that areas stretching from Srikakulam to Guntur witnessed tranquil polling without significant disruptions.

## Scrutiny over Pulivendula Claims and Ongoing Investigations
Allegations surrounding the functioning and conduct of polling agents in Pulivendula emerged as a point of contention during the day. The state election chief acknowledged taking note of these representations, confirming that direct discussions were conducted with the local police superintendent to verify the claims prior to initiating statutory measures.

Inspector General Raja Kumari indicated that investigators are carefully sifting through approximately 40 localized incidents reported during the polling hours. Wherever verifiable evidence of criminal obstruction or electoral malpractices surfaced, police officers acted decisively, leading to the registration of 275 formal complaints. The commission reiterated that final determinations will follow thorough reviews of reports from presiding officers, videographic documentation, and physical evidence.

## What this means for you
The conclusion of voting across 92 urban areas in Andhra Pradesh sets the stage for new municipal administrations that directly govern daily civic life.

- **In Andhra Pradesh:** The political fate of 10,262 candidates will be decided when votes are counted on November 3. Following the results, newly elected mayors and corporators across 13 corporations and 79 municipalities will take charge of local sanitation, roads, and civic budgets.
- **For Vijayawada Residents:** Voters in ward 55 received an extended deadline until 7:30 PM to compensate for morning technical glitches. This administrative relief ensured that hundreds of queuing residents could cast their votes without disenfranchisement.
- **In Kadapa, Anantapur, and Palnadu:** Law enforcement filed 275 formal complaints after approximately 40 localized clashes occurred. Stricter police scrutiny and investigations will continue in these districts against those accused of disrupting voting.
- **Across Participating Wards:** Over 5.9 million citizens exercised their democratic rights across 804 competitive wards. These votes directly determine local neighborhood governance, municipal service delivery, and public amenity management for years to come.

## Why this happened
The widespread participation and scattered friction witnessed during the urban civic polls stem from high-stakes grass-roots political rivalry across the state.

- **Fierce Local Competition:** Direct contests for 13 mayoral seats, 70 municipality chairmanships, and 804 contested corporator wards heightened tensions on the ground. Candidates and their political backers engaged in aggressive turf battles, leading to complaints and scattered skirmishes.
- **Technical Hurdles in Vijayawada:** Polling at ward number 55 within Vijayawada Municipal Corporation experienced a two-and-a-half-hour delay due to unforeseen technical and administrative bottlenecks. This forced election authorities to extend voting hours until 7:30 PM to prevent voter disenfranchisement.
- **Agent Disputes in Pulivendula and Sensitive Belts:** Accusations regarding polling agent placements surfaced in Pulivendula, while Kadapa, Anantapur, and Palnadu registered multiple violations. In response, authorities lodged 275 police complaints and initiated administrative investigations based on ground reports.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. What was the final voter turnout in the Andhra Pradesh civic elections?
An overall turnout of 60.96 percent was recorded across 92 urban civic bodies, with 5,906,255 voters casting ballots.

### 2. When will the counting of votes and election results take place?
The counting of votes for all 10,262 candidates across the state is scheduled for November 3.

### 3. Why was the voting deadline extended in Vijayawada Ward 55?
Technical and operational delays pushed back the start of voting by two and a half hours, prompting officials to extend voting until 7:30 PM.

### 4. How many incidents were reported during polling and what legal action followed?
Approximately 40 incidents occurred statewide, leading the police to file 275 first information reports.

### 5. How many corporator wards saw candidates elected without opposition?
Out of 922 total corporator wards, candidates in 118 wards were elected unopposed, leaving 804 wards for direct polling.

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