SEC directs Collectors, SPs to ensure peaceful local body polls in A.P.

State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha addressing media persons in Vijayawada on Thursday. | Photo Credit: Giri KVS

State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha has directed District Collectors and Superintendents of Police (SPs) to work in close coordination to ensure peaceful and transparent conduct of the ongoing local body elections in Andhra Pradesh.

Addressing a video conference on Thursday, he stressed the need for adequate police deployment, maintenance of law and order and preventive measures in sensitive areas, taking into account past election-related incidents.

Mr. Punetha said elections to MPTCs, ZPTCs and the first phase of 100 urban local bodies had been completed. Elections for Mandal Parishad presidents and Zilla Parishad chairpersons would be held on November 19 and 20, respectively. Polling for the remaining 23 urban local bodies would be held on November 26 and counting on November 30.

Panchayat polls

Gram panchayat elections would be conducted in three phases, with notifications on November 13, 16 and 19. Counting would take place on November 26, 29 and December 2, respectively, he said, adding, indirect elections to the remaining urban local bodies would be held on December 3. The entire process was expected to conclude by December 3 or 4.

The Commissioner directed officials to provide adequate security to candidates filing nominations and make arrangements at district headquarters wherever necessary. CCTV cameras or videography should be provided at all nomination centres, strong rooms and counting centres. Recordings should be preserved for at least 60 days or until disposal of election petitions.

State Election Secretary A. Mallikarjuna said two to four panchayats with populations below 10,000 each should be grouped into clusters for receiving nominations, while every panchayat with a population exceeding 10,000 should have a separate Returning Officer.

Inspector-General of Police B. Rajakumari directed SPs to deploy strike forces and mobile police teams strategically. She said complaints had been received from nearly 25 districts during the MPTC and ZPTC elections and called for special vigilance to prevent threats, kidnapping of candidates and obstruction of nominations.

Panchayat Raj Commissioner M.V. Krishna Teja and other senior officials participated.

Published - November 12, 2026 08:37 pm IST