In a tense atmosphere marked by violence, polling for Andhra Pradesh's urban local body elections took place on Sunday, with a notable incident in Pulivendula, Kadapa district. Fourteen vehicles were set ablaze hours before the voting began, prompting YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to stage a sit-in outside the Returning Officer's office, demanding a repoll due to alleged irregularities.
The elections, initially scheduled for October 28, were postponed following a Supreme Court directive addressing complaints about nomination filing issues. Voting commenced at 7 a.m. and was set to conclude at 5 p.m., with results expected on November 3. The State Election Commission reported a 37.13% voter turnout by 1 p.m., with 35.97 lakh of the 96.89 lakh eligible voters having cast their ballots.
Violence erupted in Pulivendula, the home turf of Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, where clashes between YSRCP and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supporters led to stone-pelting incidents. The police intervened to restore order. Elsewhere in the state, polling proceeded without major disruptions, according to State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha.
Jagan Mohan Reddy accused the State Election Commission of bias and failing to ensure fair elections, alleging that YSRCP polling agents were denied entry to several booths. He criticized the election process, stating that the SEC should give every candidate a fair chance from nominations to counting.
In Visakhapatnam, the largest municipal corporation, voter turnout lagged at 27.55% by 1 p.m., the lowest among urban areas. In contrast, Kanigiri in Markapuram district saw the highest turnout at 63.36%, albeit with only two wards voting. Jammalamadugu in Kadapa district followed closely with a 61.86% turnout.
Despite the challenges, some voters showed determination to participate. In Visakhapatnam, 66-year-old Jaya Kumar, leaning on a bamboo stick, navigated a crowded polling station to cast his vote. Meanwhile, in Ongole, a 70-year-old voter, Pasupuleti Narasimha Rao, collapsed at a polling station and was taken to a hospital.
State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha and Secretary A. Mallikarjuna monitored the election process through webcasting, with 13,500 CCTV cameras installed at polling stations District Election Officer Himanshu Shukla conducted inspections on a motorcycle, visiting several polling stations to ensure smooth operations.
In a separate incident, Shaik Dastagiri, an accused-turned-approver in the Y. S. Vivekananda Reddy murder case, confronted Jagan Mohan Reddy's convoy, causing a brief commotion. Dastagiri, known for his rivalry with the Y. S. family, reportedly shouted at Reddy during the encounter.
As the day progressed, polling in smaller towns outpaced that in larger cities. By 11 a.m., Jammalamadugu led with a 60.92% turnout, followed by Kuppam at 44.30% and Nagari at 40.46%. In contrast, urban centers like Vijayawada and Guntur reported lower turnouts of 18.07% and 17.82%, respectively.
Despite the violence and allegations, the election process continued, with authorities urging voters to participate. Minister Nara Lokesh, in a post on social media, emphasized that the election authorities would address any criminal activities and encouraged a high voter turnout.
