TDP-led NDA takes early lead in Andhra municipal results
Counting in Andhra Pradesh's urban local body elections on 3 November 2026 has put the ruling TDP-led NDA ahead in several corporations and municipalities, with early sweeps reported in Kuppam and Macherla.
Key Takeaways
- Counting began at 8 am on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, across 92 urban local bodies in Andhra Pradesh: 13 municipal corporations and 79 municipalities and nagar panchayats.
- Early and declared results put the ruling Telugu Desam Party-led NDA alliance ahead in several corporations and municipalities, including sweeps in Kuppam and Macherla.
- The full statewide tally is not yet final: counting is being declared ward by ward, and counting in Chirala was postponed because of heavy rain and will resume on 6 November.
Introduction
Andhra Pradesh's ruling alliance has taken an early lead as votes are counted in the state's urban local body elections. Counting that began on the morning of Tuesday, 3 November 2026, covers 92 urban local bodies, and the first declared results point to a strong showing for the Telugu Desam Party-led National Democratic Alliance against the opposition YSR Congress Party.
The result matters beyond the ward maps. These elections decide who runs the state's towns and cities day to day, and they are the first major electoral test for the NDA government led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu since its victory in the 2024 Assembly elections.
What Happened?
Polling was held on 1 November 2026, with repolling in selected wards on 2 November, and counting began at 8 am on 3 November with postal ballots, followed by ward-by-ward declarations. A total of 10,105 candidates contested councillor and corporator seats, while 520 were in the race for mayor and chairperson posts.
Of the 96,89,061 registered voters, 60,22,411 cast their votes, a turnout of 62.16 per cent. Chimakurthi recorded the highest turnout at 84.36 per cent, while Tirupati recorded the lowest at 46.85 per cent.
Why Does This Matter?
Municipal elections settle control of the bodies that deliver most urban services, from sanitation and water to street lighting and local roads. A sweep in the corporations therefore gives the ruling alliance a firmer grip on urban administration across the state.
Politically, the contest measures the NDA's standing in urban Andhra Pradesh. The alliance, made up of the TDP, the Jana Sena Party and the BJP, faces the YSR Congress Party, which contested all 13 corporation mayoral seats and all 70 chairperson seats that went to a vote.
The mayoral race in Vijayawada is among the most closely watched, with NDA-backed Jana Sena nominee Vangaveeti Radhakrishna facing YSR Congress candidate and former mayor Rayana Bhagyalakshmi.
Important Details
- What was counted: 92 urban local bodies, comprising 13 municipal corporations and 79 municipalities and nagar panchayats, covering 3,186 wards.
- When: Polling on 1 November 2026, repolling in selected wards on 2 November, counting from 8 am on 3 November 2026.
- Turnout: 62.16 per cent, with 60,22,411 of 96,89,061 registered voters casting ballots.
- Early sweeps: The TDP-led NDA won all 32 wards in Kuppam and all 36 wards in Macherla, and secured majorities in Yemmiganur, Narasapuram and Palasa-Kasibugga, according to reports published on 3 November.
- Other declared counts: In Punganur, the TDP won 30 of 36 wards. In Pulivendula, after 30 of 40 wards were counted, the TDP had won 25, the YSR Congress two, the BJP two and the Jana Sena one.
- Corporation leads: Early counting showed the alliance leading in eight corporations, including Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati and Kadapa.
- Weather disruption: Rain linked to Cyclone Murasu delayed counting in Prakasam and Bapatla, and counting in Chirala was postponed to 6 November.
Background and Context
Andhra Pradesh's urban local bodies are voting in a different political landscape from the last statewide round: the 2026 elections are the first since the TDP-led NDA returned to power in 2024. The alliance divided the 13 corporation mayoral contests among its partners, with the TDP contesting 10, the Jana Sena two and the BJP one, while the YSR Congress fielded candidates in all 13.
Counting was conducted using ballot papers at 138 centres with 556 counting halls. Cyclone Murasu, also affecting the Andhra coast on 3 November, disrupted counting in coastal districts and forced the postponement in Chirala.
What Happens Next?
Results will continue to be declared ward by ward until the counts in all 92 bodies are complete. Readers should treat any statewide tally published during the day as provisional until the State Election Commission's final declarations are available.
Once the ward results are final, the newly elected councils will formally constitute their municipal bodies. Counting in Chirala, postponed because of heavy rain, is scheduled to resume on 6 November, so that municipality's result will follow the rest.
FAQs
How many urban local bodies went to the polls? Ninety-two: 13 municipal corporations and 79 municipalities and nagar panchayats, covering 3,186 wards.
When were the elections held? Polling took place on 1 November 2026, with repolling in selected wards on 2 November and counting from 8 am on 3 November 2026.
Who is leading so far? Early and declared results reported on 3 November put the TDP-led NDA alliance ahead in several corporations and municipalities, including sweeps in Kuppam and Macherla, but the full tally is not yet final.
Why is counting delayed in some places? Rain linked to Cyclone Murasu delayed counting in Prakasam and Bapatla, and counting in Chirala was postponed until 6 November.
Sources and Verification
This article is based on reporting published on 3 November 2026 by The Economic Times, The South First (updated 5:37 pm), m9.news (updated 12:18 pm) and Jagran Josh. Where outlets reported different turnout figures during the day, this article uses the later figure of 62.16 per cent, which matches the reported voter totals. Ward results are as declared or counted at the time of writing, not yet the final statewide tally.
Related News
- Cyclone Murasu heads for Andhra coast, landfall on 3 November
- Severe Cyclone Murasu nears Andhra coast, landfall due tonight
Editorial Note
Counting in a 92-body election is declared in phases, and early leads can change as later wards are counted. This article reports results as declared or counted on 3 November 2026 and will be updated when final tallies are confirmed. Official State Election Commission declarations should be treated as final.
