The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) has taken a decisive step on the long-pending local body elections. With legal hurdles and court disputes now fully cleared, it has decided to hold polling in 23 municipalities and municipal corporations on the 26th of this month.
The commission has provisionally decided to conduct these urban polls on November 26, the same day the first phase of the panchayat elections is scheduled. The official election notification is likely to be released on the 13th of this month. The polls had earlier been postponed because of court cases and legal complications.
The 23 urban local bodies comprise four municipal corporations, 15 municipalities and four nagar panchayats. The corporations are Srikakulam, Rajamahendravaram, Kakinada and Mangalagiri-Tadepalli. The nagar panchayats are Alluru, Chintalapudi, Podili and B. Kothakota.
The 15 municipalities are Amudalavalasa, Bhimavaram, Tadepalligudem, Palakollu, Tanuku, Gudivada, Gudur, Kandukur, Kavali, Narasaraopet, Ponnur, Rajam, Srikalahasti, Tadigadapa and Bapatla. Around 24.93 lakh voters are expected to exercise their franchise across these bodies.