Andhra Pradesh urban body polls: 22,806 nominations valid ahead of Oct 28 vote
Synopsis
With 22,806 nominations cleared and elections just days away on 28 October, Andhra Pradesh's urban local body polls are shaping up as a direct test of TDP-led NDA dominance — and a measure of how much ground the YSRCP has retained since its 2024 state election defeat. The parallel presence of both Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSRCP and his sister Sharmila's Congress adds an unusual intra-family dimension to the civic contest.
Key Takeaways
22,806 nominations declared valid for Andhra Pradesh urban local body elections scheduled on 28 October 2026 .
1,531 nominations were rejected during scrutiny by the State Election Commission (SEC) .
The TDP leads the nomination count, with 6,032 valid nominations for municipality and nagar panchayat ward member posts alone.
The YSRCP is the largest opposition party by nominations, fielding 5,497 valid candidates for the same ward member posts.
Elections cover posts of Mayors and Chairpersons across 13 municipal corporations and 86 municipalities and nagar panchayats , plus thousands of ward member seats.
The polls are the first urban local body elections since the TDP-led NDA returned to power in Andhra Pradesh.
A total of 22,806 candidate nominations have been declared valid for Andhra Pradesh's urban local body elections, scheduled for 28 October 2026, the State Election Commission (SEC) confirmed on Monday. The scrutiny process also saw 1,531 nominations rejected, narrowing the field ahead of one of the state's most keenly watched civic contests in recent years.
Key Nomination Numbers
The valid nominations cover candidates vying for ward member posts as well as Mayors and Chairpersons of municipal corporations, municipalities, and nagar panchayats across the state. Of the total valid nominations, 1,213 were cleared for the posts of Mayors of municipal corporations and municipalities, and Chairpersons of nagar panchayats.
For the top posts in 13 municipal corporations, 286 nominations were found valid. For the 86 municipalities and nagar panchayats, the SEC received 1,027 nominations, of which 100 were rejected, leaving 927 valid.
Party-Wise Breakdown for Mayor and Chairperson Posts
Among the ruling coalition, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leads the field with 46 nominations for mayor posts and 246 for chairperson posts. Its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ally Jana Sena, headed by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, has fielded 8 candidates for mayor posts and 84 for chairperson posts. The third NDA partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has filed 4 nominations for mayor posts and is contesting 20 chairperson seats.
In opposition, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), led by former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, has filed the most nominations among opposition parties — 47 for mayor posts and 277 for chairperson posts. The Indian National Congress (Congress), led by Y. S. Sharmila — Jagan Mohan Reddy's sister — has fielded 35 candidates for mayor posts and 76 for chairperson posts. A total of 93 independent candidates were also cleared for the mayor and corporation-level posts.
Ward Member Contests
The ward member elections are set to be the most numerically intense tier of the polls. For the 922 ward member posts across municipal corporations, the SEC received 8,217 nominations, of which 7,610 were found valid. The TDP leads with 2,752 valid nominations, followed by Jana Sena with 972 and BJP with 332. The YSRCP has 2,129 valid nominations, while Congress has 194.
For the 2,988 ward member posts across municipalities and nagar panchayats, 15,196 nominations were cleared. The TDP dominates with 6,032 valid nominations, Jana Sena has 1,290, and BJP has 508. The YSRCP secured 5,497 valid nominations, while Congress has 191.
Political Context and What's at Stake
This is the first urban local body election in Andhra Pradesh since the TDP-led NDA swept back to power, making the polls a significant early test of the ruling coalition's hold on urban voters. Notably, the YSRCP — which governed the state through the previous term — is mounting a strong numerical challenge at the ward level, particularly in municipalities and nagar panchayats where its valid nominations nearly match those of TDP.
This comes amid an ongoing rivalry between the Y. S. family factions, with Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSRCP and his sister Sharmila's Congress fielding candidates simultaneously in many urban segments — a dynamic that could split opposition votes to the NDA's advantage. The results, expected shortly after the 28 October vote, will offer the first granular read on urban political alignment in post-election Andhra Pradesh.
Point of View
And the YSRCP's stubborn ground presence despite its 2024 state election rout. The Congress angle — led by Sharmila, Jagan's sister — adds a politically unusual sub-plot; if Congress and YSRCP split the anti-TDP vote, the ruling coalition's urban consolidation could be near-total. What mainstream coverage misses is that ward-level numbers matter more than headlines about mayor seats — wards define daily governance and form the patronage infrastructure for the next state election cycle.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the Andhra Pradesh urban local body elections being held?
The Andhra Pradesh urban local body elections are scheduled for 28 October 2026. The State Election Commission confirmed the poll schedule after completing scrutiny of nominations on Monday.
How many nominations were found valid for the Andhra Pradesh municipal polls?
A total of 22,806 nominations were declared valid by the State Election Commission. An additional 1,531 nominations were rejected during the scrutiny process.
Which parties are contesting the Andhra Pradesh municipal elections?
The ruling NDA coalition — comprising the TDP, Jana Sena (led by Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan), and the BJP — is contesting across all post categories. The YSRCP, led by former CM Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, and the Congress, led by his sister Y. S. Sharmila, are the main opposition parties.
What posts are up for election in the Andhra Pradesh urban local body polls?
The elections cover ward member posts and the top executive posts — Mayors of 13 municipal corporations, and Chairpersons of 86 municipalities and nagar panchayats — spanning thousands of seats across urban Andhra Pradesh.
Why are these elections politically significant for Andhra Pradesh?
These are the first urban local body elections since the TDP-led NDA returned to power, making them an early test of the ruling coalition's urban support base. The simultaneous presence of YSRCP and Congress — both connected to the Y. S. family — also means opposition votes could split, potentially amplifying the NDA's advantage.
