Pawan Kalyan meets Chandrababu Naidu for 2nd day on MPTC, ZPTC seat sharing
Synopsis
For the second day running, Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan sat down with CM Chandrababu Naidu to crack an NDA seat-sharing formula for MPTC and ZPTC polls — even as nomination deadlines expired Friday evening and alliance aspirants had already filed papers independently, leaving the coalition's unified front in question ahead of the 3 November vote.
Key Takeaways
Chandrababu Naidu for a second consecutive day at his Amaravati residence on Friday , focusing on MPTC and ZPTC seat sharing.
The TDP-Jana Sena-BJP alliance has not yet reached a formal consensus on MPTC and ZPTC constituencies, even as aspirants from all three parties filed nominations independently.
The Supreme Court ordered the SEC to extend the nomination window for urban local body polls, prompting a postponement from 28 October to 1 November .
Approximately 2.81 crore voters will be eligible to vote in MPTC and ZPTC elections scheduled for 3 November .
Polling will be held for 659 ZPTCs and 9,829 MPTCs ; vote counting is set for 5 November .
The NDA had already sealed seat-sharing for 100 urban local bodies but the rural-tier deal remained elusive as of Friday.
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan visited Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu at his residence in Amaravati on Friday, 24 October 2025, for a second consecutive day of talks on seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) elections. The two leaders conferred for approximately 30 minutes, underscoring the urgency of resolving coalition differences before the nomination deadline closes.
What Brought Them Together Again
Despite the NDA alliance — comprising TDP, Jana Sena, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — having already locked in a seat-sharing deal for elections in 100 urban local bodies, no formal consensus has been reached on the MPTC and ZPTC constituencies. With the deadline to file nominations for these polls falling on Friday evening, aspirants from all three alliance partners had filed papers independently wherever they believed they had strong prospects, according to reports — a signal that internal coordination remained incomplete.
Thursday's Meeting and the Supreme Court Order
Kalyan had also met Naidu on Thursday to discuss fallout from a Supreme Court directive instructing the State Election Commission (SEC) to extend the nomination window for urban local body elections in areas where candidates of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) or other contenders were unable to file nominations due to a law-and-order situation. Acting on the court's order, the SEC postponed municipal elections — originally set for 28 October — to 1 November, and also extended the nomination process in four urban local bodies.
Key Dates and Election Scale
The MPTC and ZPTC polls are scheduled for 3 November, with roughly 2.81 crore voters eligible to participate. Polling will cover 659 of the state's 663 ZPTCs and 9,829 of its 9,858 MPTCs. Nominations opened on 21 October; scrutiny is set for 24 October. Candidates whose nominations are rejected may appeal by 25 October — before the concerned Revenue Divisional Officer for MPTC cases and before the District Collector for ZPTC cases — with appeals to be disposed of the following day.
Final Steps Before Polling Day
The last date for withdrawal of candidatures is 27 October, the same day a final candidate list will be published. Should polling be required, it will take place on 3 November, with repoll contingencies on 4 November and vote counting on 5 November. With Naidu and Kalyan still working toward a formal understanding, the coming hours will be decisive for the alliance's unified electoral strategy in the state's grassroots governance tier.
Point of View
Even if it projects unity at the top. The fact that aspirants from all three partners filed nominations independently — before any consensus — suggests the alliance may end up fielding candidates against each other in some MPTC and ZPTC constituencies, which could fragment the NDA vote. Naidu's ability to manage Kalyan as an equal partner, not a junior ally, is being tested publicly; how they resolve this before 27 October's withdrawal deadline will reveal the real power dynamics inside the coalition.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Pawan Kalyan meet Chandrababu Naidu two days in a row?
The two leaders met to resolve seat-sharing differences between TDP, Jana Sena, and BJP for MPTC and ZPTC elections in Andhra Pradesh. No formal consensus had been reached as of Friday, even as the nomination deadline was closing.
What are MPTC and ZPTC elections in Andhra Pradesh?
MPTC refers to Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency and ZPTC to Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency — both are local body elections that determine grassroots governance across the state. Andhra Pradesh is conducting polls for 9,829 MPTCs and 659 ZPTCs, with approximately 2.81 crore voters eligible.
Why were the Andhra Pradesh municipal elections postponed?
The Supreme Court directed the State Election Commission to extend the nomination process in areas where YSRCP candidates and others could not file due to law-and-order issues. Following this order, the SEC shifted municipal elections from 28 October to 1 November.
When is the voting and counting scheduled for MPTC and ZPTC polls?
Polling is scheduled for 3 November, with repoll contingencies on 4 November and vote counting on 5 November. The last date for withdrawal of candidatures is 27 October.
Has the NDA reached any seat-sharing deal for Andhra local body polls?
The TDP-Jana Sena-BJP alliance had already finalised seat sharing for 100 urban local bodies. However, as of Friday evening, no formal agreement had been reached for the MPTC and ZPTC constituencies, with aspirants from all three parties filing nominations independently.
