Andhra Pradesh civic polls largely peaceful; Jagan calls for protest in Pulivendula after clashes

Voters wait in a queue outside Polling Station 2 in Ward No. 55 at Rajarajeswari Peta in Vijayawada, where voting began at 9 am following a delay caused by a printing error in the election symbols allotted to two candidates. | Photo credit: KVS Giri

Elections to 13 municipal corporations and 79 municipalities and nagar panchayats in Andhra Pradesh ended at 5 pm on Sunday without any major law and order problems, except for incidents of stone-pelting by TDP and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) cadres and torching of several vehicles in Pulivendula.

According to information provided by the State Election Commission (SEC), the overall polling percentage in urban local bodies was 48:03 at 3:00 pm compared to 63:30 in the 2021 elections.

YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) President and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy staged a protest in Pulivendula against alleged electoral malpractices and preventing YSRCP agents from entering several polling booths.

The SEC extended polling by two-and-a-half hours till 7.30 pm in Ward No. 55 of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation to correct an error in the printing of election symbols allotted to two candidates.

In Pulivendula, Mr. Jagan demanded retaliation across the municipality, alleging that the election authorities turned a blind eye to rule violations that undermined the election process. He left without casting his vote.

Independent candidate AB Venkateswara Rao is staging a protest at polling station No. 73 in New RR Peta, Vijayawada on Sunday demanding a booth protest. | Photo credit: GN Rao

Responding to Mr. Jagan’s demand at a press conference in Vijayawada, State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha said he had sought a report from the District Collector. A decision to appeal would be taken based on formal requests from the Collector or Superintendent of Police, supported by evidence, he said.

Meanwhile, mild tension prevailed when Mr. Jagan was on his way to the Returning Officer’s office at Pulivendula, as Sk. Accused of murdering former MP YS Vivekananda Reddy, Dastagiri reportedly confronted the YSRCP chief over the issues he was facing.

Sporadic incidents were also reported from some other places in Rayalaseema and Palnadu regions. They were investigated by the relevant district selectors and district election authorities.

State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha visited the polling booth at DAV Public School in Ibrahimpatnam near Vijayawada on Sunday.

Mr. Punetha told the media that he spoke to the Collectors of Nandyal, Kadapa, Palnadu, Markapuram, Nellore, Prakasam, Tirupati, Chittoor, Anantapur, Kurnool, Annamayya and Sri Sathya Sai districts in the evening. According to him, the elections were largely peaceful.

He added that the incidents reported from Palnadu and Anantapur and Pulivendula districts are being investigated. A decision on whether an appeal was necessary would be made after examining reports from the field, as the Commission’s orders had to withstand judicial review.

Responding to questions on the neutrality of officials deployed for election service, Mr. Punetha said the Commission has to manage the elections with the manpower and resources at its disposal. Unlike the Election Commission of India, it did not have the luxury of deploying external observers, he indicated.

The police department has registered 275 FIRs in connection with 40 incidents. Repolling, if necessary, will be held on November 2, he added.

Published – 01 Nov 2026 19:39 IST