Andhra Pradesh announces local body election schedule

Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha has announced the schedule for local body elections, which will run from October 14 through December 2. Urban local body polling is set for October 28, with results expected on October 30. MPTC and ZPTC elections will occur on November 3, followed by Gram Panchayat elections conducted in three phases starting November 26.

The Model Code of Conduct has officially come into effect following the announcement.

Simultaneously, the NDA alliance is navigating seat-sharing negotiations for these upcoming polls. Janasena leader Pawan Kalyan is reportedly seeking a larger presence to expand his party's grassroots influence, specifically requesting six Municipal Corporations and 40 Municipalities. This presents a strategic challenge for Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who must balance accommodating Janasena's demands with maintaining stability and preventing resentment within the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) base.