Andhra Pradesh municipal polls: Repolling underway in 13 stations across 7 ULBs
Synopsis
Andhra Pradesh's urban local body elections have hit a credibility flashpoint: the State Election Commission nullified polls in 13 stations across five districts after confirmed booth capturing, while YSRCP's Jagan Mohan Reddy demanded repolling in all 80 Pulivendula stations — far more than the four the SEC agreed to. With 60.96% turnout on Sunday across 92 ULBs, what happens in these 13 stations could carry outsized political weight.
Key Takeaways
The Andhra Pradesh SEC ordered repolling in 13 polling stations across 7 ULBs in 5 districts on 2 November 2026 .
Repolling was triggered by confirmed booth capturing in Pulivendula , Jammalamadugu , and Kadapa Municipal Corporation during Sunday's polls.
YSR Kadapa district accounted for 8 of the 13 repolling stations.
Jagan Mohan Reddy demanded repolling in all 80 Pulivendula stations ; the SEC covered only 4 .
Sunday's elections recorded 60.96% turnout across 92 ULBs , with 59,06,255 out of 96,89,061 voters casting ballots.
Repolling voting ran from 7 am to 5 pm ; 23.62% polling was recorded by 11 am .
The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) ordered repolling on Monday, 2 November 2026 in 13 polling stations spread across seven Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in five districts, following widespread complaints of booth capturing and rigging during urban local body elections held on Sunday. The fresh voting, covering ward member and chairperson posts, began at 7 am and was scheduled to run until 5 pm.
Where Repolling Was Ordered
The highest number of repolling stations — eight — were in YSR Kadapa district, including four stations in Pulivendula Municipality and three in Jammalamadugu Municipality, plus one in Kadapa Municipal Corporation. The remaining five stations were spread across Palnadu district (two stations in Macherla Municipality), and one each in Anantapur Municipal Corporation, Tirupati Municipal Corporation, and Chimakurthy Municipality in Prakasam district.
Tight security arrangements were put in place across all affected ULBs to ensure free and fair repolling. The SEC also directed that indelible ink be applied on the left middle finger of voters during the repoll — a procedural safeguard to prevent duplicate voting.
Legal Basis for the Void Declaration
State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha declared the original polls in the affected stations as void, citing that the election process had been 'vitiated,' effectively depriving voters of their right to franchise. The SEC invoked powers under Article 243A of the Constitution of India, read with Section 343(2)(a) of the AP Municipalities Act, 1965, to nullify the results and direct fresh polling for both chairperson and ward member elections.
According to the SEC, booth capturing was confirmed in Pulivendula Municipality (four stations), Jammalamadugu Municipality (three stations), and Kadapa Municipal Corporation (one station) — all in YSR Kadapa district, which emerged as the flashpoint of Sunday's alleged malpractices.
YSRCP Demands Wider Repolling
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) President and former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy demanded repolling across all polling stations in Pulivendula, his hometown. Visiting the area on Sunday, he alleged that in 70 out of 80 polling stations, YSRCP agents were either not permitted entry or were forcibly removed. He reportedly described the day as a 'dark day for democracy,' alleging large-scale malpractices during the original polling.
The SEC's order covered only four of Pulivendula's stations, falling short of Jagan Mohan Reddy's broader demand — a distinction likely to fuel further political contestation over the results.
Sunday's Election: Scale and Turnout
The original urban local body elections on Sunday were held across 92 ULBs in Andhra Pradesh, covering posts of ward members, mayors of 13 municipal corporations, and chairpersons of 70 municipalities. Out of a total electorate of 96,89,061 voters, 59,06,255 cast their votes — a turnout of 60.96 per cent. In the 13 repolling stations, 23.62 per cent voting was recorded by 11 am on Monday, suggesting a steady pace through the morning hours.
The outcome of these elections will shape civic governance across Andhra Pradesh's urban centres, and the integrity of the repolling process will likely be closely watched given the scale of the allegations raised on Sunday.
Point of View
Jagan Mohan Reddy's political bastion, is a charged allegation in a post-2024 Andhra where YSRCP is fighting to rebuild after its assembly rout. The ruling dispensation will claim a clean process; the opposition will dispute any result that flows from Sunday's votes. What's missing from coverage is an accountability lens: who has been detained, what FIRs have been filed, and whether the officers-in-charge of the vitiated stations face consequences. Without that, repolling is procedural repair, not deterrence.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was repolling ordered in Andhra Pradesh municipal elections?
The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission ordered repolling in 13 stations across 7 ULBs after confirmed incidents of booth capturing and large-scale rigging complaints during the original polls held on Sunday, 1 November. The SEC declared the original polls in those stations void under Article 243A of the Constitution and Section 343(2)(a) of the AP Municipalities Act, 1965.
Which districts and municipalities are affected by the Andhra repolling?
Repolling was held in YSR Kadapa district (8 stations: Pulivendula Municipality, Jammalamadugu Municipality, Kadapa Municipal Corporation), Palnadu district (2 stations: Macherla Municipality), and one station each in Anantapur Municipal Corporation, Tirupati Municipal Corporation, and Chimakurthy Municipality in Prakasam district.
What did Jagan Mohan Reddy demand regarding the Pulivendula repolling?
YSRCP President and former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy demanded repolling in all polling stations in Pulivendula, alleging that YSRCP agents were prevented from entering or removed from 70 out of 80 booths. The SEC, however, ordered repolling in only four Pulivendula stations where booth capturing was confirmed.
What was the voter turnout in Andhra Pradesh's urban local body elections?
Sunday's elections across 92 Urban Local Bodies recorded a turnout of 60.96 per cent, with 59,06,255 out of 96,89,061 registered voters casting their ballots. In the 13 repolling stations on Monday, 23.62 per cent turnout was recorded by 11 am.
What posts were at stake in the Andhra Pradesh municipal elections?
The elections covered ward member posts across all state Urban Local Bodies, along with mayor elections for 13 municipal corporations and chairperson elections for 70 municipalities across Andhra Pradesh.
