Andhra Pradesh ULB polls 2026: Over 25,809 nominations filed for 100 urban bodies
Synopsis
Over 25,809 candidates — from TDP, Jana Sena, BJP, YSRCP, Congress, and independents — have filed nominations for Andhra Pradesh's 28 October urban local body polls. The process has turned contentious, with YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy approaching the Governor over alleged nomination blocking, even as his own party's massive filing numbers undercut the claim.
Key Takeaways
25,809 nominations filed for elections to 100 urban local bodies in Andhra Pradesh , scheduled for 28 October .
320 nominations received for mayor posts across 13 municipal corporations ; 1,038 for chairperson posts in 87 municipalities and nagar panchayats .
TDP leads the NDA alliance's candidate count; YSRCP is the largest single opposition filer across all categories.
YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy met Governor S.
Abdul Nazeer alleging nomination blocking; Nara Lokesh rejected the charge on X .
Last date for withdrawal of nominations is 21 October (Wednesday) ; scrutiny begins Monday, 20 October .
More than 25,809 candidates have filed nominations for elections to 100 urban local bodies in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled for 28 October, according to the State Election Commission (SEC). The nominations — spanning ward member seats and the posts of mayors and chairpersons across municipal corporations, municipalities, and nagar panchayats — were filed ahead of the Sunday deadline and will face scrutiny on Monday.
Key Nomination Figures
The SEC received 320 nominations for the posts of mayors across 13 municipal corporations. For chairpersons of 87 municipalities and nagar panchayats, 1,038 nominations were received. Ward member seats saw the bulk of filings: 8,198 nominations were submitted for 3,020 ward member posts in municipal corporations, while 16,253 nominations came in for 922 ward member posts across municipalities and nagar panchayats.
Party-Wise Contest Breakdown
The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) — led by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) — has fielded the largest combined alliance contingent. Across all categories, TDP has submitted nominations for approximately 9,789 candidates in total, while its ally Jana Sena, headed by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, has fielded around 1,424 candidates. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), another NDA partner, has filed nominations for approximately 913 candidates across posts.
The opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), led by former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, has fielded the largest single-party field, with nominations across all categories totalling approximately 8,543 candidates. The Congress, currently headed in the state by Y. S. Sharmila — Jagan Mohan Reddy's sister — has submitted around 533 nominations across all posts. Additionally, 112 Independents filed nominations for mayoral posts alone.
Allegations and Political Flashpoint
The nomination window closed amid sharp political controversy. YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that the TDP, with support from the SEC and police, obstructed YSRCP candidates from filing nominations — a charge that escalated to the point where he called on Governor S. Abdul Nazeer on Sunday, seeking the Governor's intervention to 'save democracy' in the state.
TDP working president and state minister Nara Lokesh pushed back sharply on X (formerly Twitter), posting that a record of over 22,800 nominations had been filed. 'Candidates from every party, every community and every corner of the state have stepped forward. Democracy in Andhra Pradesh is alive and thriving. Those who cry foul before a single vote is cast should remember: elections are won in the field, not at press meets. Face the people, the people will decide,' he wrote. Notably, YSRCP's own large nomination numbers — over 8,500 across all posts — appear to contradict the party's claim of systematic blocking.
What Happens Next
Nomination scrutiny is scheduled for Monday, 20 October, and the last date for withdrawal of nominations is Wednesday, 21 October. Polling across 100 urban local bodies is set for 28 October. The results of these elections are expected to serve as an early indicator of public sentiment toward the NDA state government, which came to power earlier this year displacing the YSRCP after a decade in opposition.
Point of View
000 across all posts — makes YSRCP's blanket claim of systematic blocking difficult to sustain at face value, given that the party itself fielded thousands of candidates. The more consequential story is what these urban body elections signal: they are the first major electoral test of the TDP-led NDA government in Andhra Pradesh, and the YSRCP's strategy of pre-emptively crying foul may be less about genuine grievance and more about building a narrative to contest any unfavourable result. The Congress angle — with Sharmila fielding her own slate against her brother Jagan's party — adds an unusual intra-family dimension that could quietly erode YSRCP support in pockets of the state.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the Andhra Pradesh urban local body elections scheduled?
The Andhra Pradesh urban local body elections are scheduled for 28 October 2026, covering 100 urban local bodies including municipal corporations, municipalities, and nagar panchayats. The nomination withdrawal deadline is 21 October.
How many nominations were filed for the Andhra Pradesh ULB elections?
A total of 25,809 nominations were filed across all posts — mayor, chairperson, and ward member — for the 100 urban local bodies going to polls. The deadline for filing ended on Sunday, 19 October.
What did Jagan Mohan Reddy allege about the nomination process?
YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that the TDP, with support from the State Election Commission and police, obstructed YSRCP candidates from filing nominations. He met Governor S. Abdul Nazeer on Sunday, seeking intervention to 'save democracy' in the state.
How did TDP respond to YSRCP's allegations of nomination blocking?
TDP working president and minister Nara Lokesh rejected the allegations on X, citing the record filing of over 22,800 nominations as proof that the process was open. He said, 'elections are won in the field, not at press meets,' and called on the YSRCP to face the electorate directly.
Which parties are contesting the Andhra Pradesh urban local body elections?
The ruling NDA alliance — comprising TDP, Jana Sena (led by Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan), and BJP — is the main ruling bloc in the contest. The YSRCP, led by former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, is the principal opposition, while Congress under Y. S. Sharmila and a large number of Independents have also filed nominations.
