Andhra Pradesh ULB polls shifted to Nov 1 after Supreme Court order
Synopsis
A Supreme Court intervention on a YSRCP petition has pushed Andhra Pradesh's Urban Local Body polls from 28 October to 1 November, with the SEC confirming that candidates in four ULBs — including Tirupati and Kadapa — were intimidated or prevented from filing nominations. The court-mandated reset raises pointed questions about electoral conditions on the ground.
Key Takeaways
Andhra Pradesh ULB elections rescheduled from 28 October to 1 November following a Supreme Court directive.
Re-polling, if any, on 2 November ; counting of votes on 3 November .
Nomination process extended in four ULBs : Kadapa Municipal Corporation , Rajampet Municipality , Mydukur Municipality , and Tirupati Municipal Corporation .
The SEC found that candidates in these four bodies were reportedly intimidated, attacked, or had nomination papers torn.
Fresh nominations can be filed on 22 and 23 October ; scrutiny and last date for withdrawal both fall on 25 October .
The Supreme Court acted on a petition by the opposition YSR Congress Party .
The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) on Thursday, 23 October 2026, rescheduled the Urban Local Body (ULB) elections in the state to 1 November, after the Supreme Court directed it to postpone the publication of the final list of contesting candidates to 25 October and extend the nomination process wherever necessary. The polling across 100 Urban Local Bodies, originally set for 28 October, now stands rescheduled following a late-night notification by the commission.
Key Developments in the Revised Schedule
State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha announced that re-polling, if required, will be conducted on 2 November, and the counting of votes will take place on 3 November. The SEC had halted the election process following the Supreme Court order issued on Wednesday before issuing the revised schedule on Thursday night.
The nomination process has been specifically extended in four Urban Local Bodies: Kadapa Municipal Corporation, Rajampet Municipality, Mydukur Municipality, and Tirupati Municipal Corporation. Candidates in these bodies can file fresh nominations on 22 and 23 October. Scrutiny of fresh nominations will be conducted on 25 October, which is also the last date for withdrawal of nominations.
Where the Nomination Process Was Extended
According to the SEC notification, the extended nomination window covers all 32 wards of Mydukur Municipality in YSR Kadapa district, 11 wards each of Kadapa Municipal Corporation and Rajampet Municipality (also in YSR Kadapa district), and 18 wards of Tirupati Municipal Corporation in Tirupati district.
The commission examined reports from Collectors and District Election Authorities as well as Commissioners of Police and Superintendents of Police across all 100 ULBs. It observed that in these four bodies, candidates willing to contest were reportedly intimidated or attacked, had their nomination papers torn, or were otherwise prevented from filing nominations due to the prevailing law and order situation.
What the Supreme Court Directed
The Supreme Court had intervened on a petition filed by the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), directing the SEC to consider representations from the petitioner party and various candidates — including evidentiary and electronic material — and to decide on extending nomination deadlines in affected ULBs. The court stipulated that such a decision be taken by 22 October and that any extended window must be at least 48 hours from the time of publishing the amended notification.
This comes amid broader concerns about electoral fairness in the state, with the YSRCP alleging that its candidates were prevented from filing nominations, a claim the SEC's own examination of police and district reports appears to have partially corroborated for the four identified ULBs.
Background: Original Election Timeline
The SEC had originally issued election notifications on 14 October for 13 Municipal Corporations and 87 Municipalities and Nagar Panchayats across Andhra Pradesh. Under the initial schedule, nominations were accepted from 16 to 18 October, scrutiny was conducted on 19 October, and the last date for withdrawal was 21 October. The entire process has now been reset to accommodate the court's directions and the commission's findings.
What Happens Next
With polling now set for 1 November, all eyes will be on whether the extended nomination process in the four ULBs proceeds without further incidents. The SEC has indicated it will take steps to ensure candidates are not deprived of their opportunity to contest. A peaceful and credible process in the remaining days will be critical to the legitimacy of the election outcome across all 100 Urban Local Bodies.
Point of View
The administrative machinery's failure to prevent it warrants scrutiny beyond a schedule adjustment. A rescheduled date solves the immediate procedural problem; it does not address the accountability deficit around law and order during the nomination phase.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why have Andhra Pradesh ULB elections been postponed to 1 November?
The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission rescheduled the Urban Local Body elections from 28 October to 1 November after the Supreme Court directed it to extend nomination deadlines in affected areas and postpone the publication of the final candidate list to 25 October. The court acted on a petition filed by the YSR Congress Party.
Which Urban Local Bodies have had their nomination process extended?
The SEC extended the nomination process in four ULBs: Kadapa Municipal Corporation, Rajampet Municipality, Mydukur Municipality, and Tirupati Municipal Corporation. The extension covers specific ward counts in each body, ranging from 11 wards in Kadapa and Rajampet to all 32 wards in Mydukur.
What did the Supreme Court direct the Andhra Pradesh SEC to do?
The Supreme Court directed the SEC to review representations from the YSRCP and various candidates — including electronic evidence — and extend nomination deadlines in ULBs where candidates were unable to file due to law and order problems. It required the SEC to act by 22 October and mandated any extended window to be at least 48 hours long.
What is the revised election schedule for Andhra Pradesh ULB polls?
Polling is now scheduled for 1 November 2026, with re-polling (if any) on 2 November and counting of votes on 3 November. Fresh nominations in the four extended ULBs can be filed on 22 and 23 October, with scrutiny and the last date for withdrawal both on 25 October.
What were the YSRCP's allegations that led to the Supreme Court petition?
The YSR Congress Party alleged that its candidates were intimidated, attacked, or had their nomination papers torn in certain Urban Local Bodies, preventing them from filing nominations. The SEC, after examining reports from district collectors and police officials, found that such incidents did occur in four ULBs and extended their nomination windows accordingly.
