Andhra Pradesh MPTC ZPTC polls 2026: 60 seats vote Friday after rain delay
Synopsis
Andhra Pradesh's local body elections spilled into a second day on Friday, with 60 MPTC and 5 ZPTC seats in rain-hit East Godavari and Eluru going to polls — even as re-polling was ordered at seven stations across six districts following rigging and ballot box damage on Thursday. With 37 violence incidents across 15 districts and petrol bomb attacks in two, the polls have been far from routine.
Key Takeaways
Polling for 60 MPTC and 5 ZPTC seats in East Godavari and Eluru districts began at 7 am on 6 November , deferred from Thursday due to heavy rains.
29.35% voter turnout was recorded by 11 am ; polls close at 5 pm .
Re-polling is underway at 7 polling stations in 6 districts due to alleged rigging and ballot box damage on Thursday.
Thursday's main phase covered 582 ZPTC and 7,767 MPTC seats with 67.24% turnout across a 2.61 crore -strong electorate.
DGP Harish Kumar Gupta confirmed 37 incidents from 15 districts , including petrol bomb attacks in YSR Kadapa and Tirupati ; no injuries reported.
Vote counting is scheduled for Saturday .
Polling is underway on Friday, 6 November for 60 Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) and five Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) seats in East Godavari and Eluru districts of Andhra Pradesh, after heavy rains forced a postponement of voting in these areas on Thursday. Balloting opened at 7 am and is scheduled to continue until 5 pm, with counting set for Saturday.
Polling Stations and Coverage
In East Godavari district, 64 polling stations are operational in Gopalapuram mandal. In Eluru, voting is being conducted across 125 polling stations spread over four mandals — Buttayagudem, Jeelugumilli, Polavaram, and Velaripadu. The State Election Commission (SEC) recorded 29.35 per cent voter turnout by 11 am.
Re-Polling at Seven Stations Over Rigging Allegations
Separately, re-polling is being held at seven polling stations across six districts after the SEC received complaints of ballot box damage, rigging, and other electoral malpractices during Thursday's main polling day. Affected areas include Anantapur, Kurnool, Srikakulam, Markapuram, and Palnadu district. Tight police security has been deployed at all centres to prevent further irregularities.
Violence and Incidents from Thursday's Main Poll
Thursday's voting across the state was not without disruption. Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from several districts. Petrol bombs were hurled by rival groups at two places in YSR Kadapa and Tirupati districts, though no injuries were reported, according to officials. Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta stated that 37 incidents were reported from 15 districts, and directed police officials to use available technology to identify those responsible. He called for strict legal action against anyone found involved in electoral malpractices or disruption of the poll process.
Scale of Thursday's Main Election Day
The main phase on Thursday saw polling for 582 ZPTC and 7,767 MPTC seats across Andhra Pradesh. The state's total electorate for these local body elections stands at approximately 2.61 crore voters. The SEC reported an overall turnout of 67.24 per cent on Thursday — a figure that underscores strong grassroots participation despite the incidents of violence and malpractice reported from across the state.
What Happens Next
With Friday's deferred polling and re-polling concluding by 5 pm, the counting of votes is scheduled for Saturday. The results will determine the composition of Mandal and Zilla Parishads, the two-tier local governance bodies at the district and sub-district level, which influence rural development spending and infrastructure allocation for millions of residents across Andhra Pradesh.
Point of View
Including petrol bomb attacks and ballot box tampering, point to deep-seated political violence that state authorities have yet to bring under control. Re-polling at seven stations is an administrative acknowledgement of failure, not a remedy. The SEC's swift response in ordering re-polls is commendable, but the question that goes unanswered is why, with an election date known well in advance, the preventive machinery was insufficient. Andhra Pradesh's pattern of local election violence is not new; without deterrent prosecutions after every cycle, the incidents are likely to recur.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was polling held on Friday in East Godavari and Eluru?
Polling in East Godavari and Eluru districts was deferred from Thursday to Friday, 6 November, because heavy rains made voting impossible on the original date when the rest of Andhra Pradesh voted. Balloting covers 60 MPTC and 5 ZPTC seats across these two districts.
What is the voter turnout so far in Friday's Andhra Pradesh MPTC ZPTC polls?
The State Election Commission reported a turnout of 29.35 per cent by 11 am on Friday. Polling continues until 5 pm, so the final figure is expected to rise.
Why is re-polling being held at some stations in Andhra Pradesh?
The SEC ordered re-polling at seven polling stations across six districts — including Anantapur, Kurnool, and Srikakulam — after receiving complaints of ballot box damage, rigging, and other electoral malpractices during Thursday's main polling day.
What violence was reported during the Andhra Pradesh local body elections?
DGP Harish Kumar Gupta confirmed 37 incidents from 15 districts. Petrol bombs were hurled by rival groups at two locations in YSR Kadapa and Tirupati districts; no injuries were reported. Police have been directed to use technology to identify and prosecute those responsible.
When will the MPTC and ZPTC election results be announced?
Counting of votes for the MPTC and ZPTC elections is scheduled for Saturday, 7 November. The results will determine the composition of Mandal and Zilla Parishads across Andhra Pradesh.
