AMARAVATI: The Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has registered a sweeping victory in Andhra Pradesh's municipal elections, winning several key urban local bodies and delivering a major setback to the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).
The alliance recorded a clean sweep in Kuppam, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's home constituency, winning all 32 wards and leaving the YSRCP without a seat. In Macherla, the NDA also won all 36 wards, with the TDP securing 32, Jana Sena Party (JSP) three and the BJP one.
The alliance secured 38 of 44 wards in Yemmiganur, 31 of 36 in Narasapuram and 31 of 36 in Palasa-Kasibugga. In Tenali, the alliance won 46 of 52 wards, including 29 for the TDP, 16 for Jana Sena and one for the BJP.
The NDA also made significant gains in other municipalities, including Pulivendula, where the TDP won 25 of the 30 wards declared at the time of reporting. In Tirupati, TDP candidate J B Srinivas won the mayoral contest by 24,625 votes.
In the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), the TDP maintained a commanding position. Its mayoral candidate Mukka Sravani was leading YSRCP candidate Varudu Kalyani by 1,19,683 votes in the reported count. The alliance also made strong gains in Guntur, Vizianagaram, Chittoor and Kurnool.
According to the tally available at 6.05 pm, 2,866 of the 3,942 wards had been declared. The TDP had won 1,986 wards, followed by the YSRCP with 359, Jana Sena with 349 and the BJP with 119. The three NDA partners together had secured 2,454 wards, while counting was still pending in several constituencies.
The results prompted a sharp reaction from YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, who alleged that the municipal elections were marked by large-scale irregularities. In a post on X, Jagan accused the ruling establishment, police and State Election Commission of undermining the electoral process.
He alleged that irregularities occurred at every stage, including nominations, scrutiny, withdrawal of candidates, polling arrangements and counting. He also questioned the reported polling percentage and alleged that it had been manipulated.
"These are no longer elections but selections!" Jagan wrote, calling for electoral reforms and alleging that opposition candidates and polling agents were prevented from participating freely.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh welcomed the NDA's performance, describing the municipal verdict as a mandate to serve rather than celebrate.
Congratulating the victorious candidates of the TDP, Jana Sena and BJP, Lokesh thanked the leaders and workers of the three alliance partners for their collective efforts. He said the results reflected people's support for the coalition government's governance over the past two-and-a-half years.
Lokesh added that the alliance's focus would now be on serving every citizen, irrespective of political affiliation. He cautioned against arrogance and said retaining public trust and fulfilling people's aspirations would remain the government's responsibility.
The municipal elections were also marked by incidents of violence, clashes and allegations of intimidation, particularly in Kadapa district's Pulivendula. TDP and YSRCP supporters clashed during polling, with stones reportedly hurled between rival groups. In a separate arson incident, three cars, 10 two-wheelers and a tractor were set ablaze. Journalists covering the elections were also allegedly attacked, with cameras damaged and reporters injured.
The violence prompted the State Election Commission to order repolling at polling stations in several urban local bodies. While polling was largely peaceful across the state, the incidents in Pulivendula and allegations of electoral malpractice became a major point of confrontation between the ruling alliance and the opposition.