• NDA wins 273 ZPTCs and 5,597 MPTCs, including unanimous victories.
• TDP leads the alliance with 229 ZPTCs and 4,823 MPTCs.
• YS Jagan alleges electoral irregularities and claims the democratic process was undermined.
• Polling turnout reaches 70.72 per cent, up from 60.91 per cent in 2021.

GG News Bureau
Amaravati, 9th Nov: The Andhra Pradesh local body polls have delivered a commanding victory for the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), triggering a fresh political confrontation between the ruling coalition and the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). While the TDP has described the results as an endorsement of its governance, former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has alleged irregularities in the electoral process.

According to the State Election Commission’s update at 9 pm on November 7, the alliance comprising the TDP, Jana Sena and BJP secured 273 of the 582 Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs) and 5,597 of the 7,767 Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs) for which results were reported. The figures include unanimous victories.

The TDP emerged as the largest contributor to the alliance’s tally, winning 229 ZPTCs and 4,823 MPTCs. Jana Sena secured 36 ZPTCs and 644 MPTCs, while the BJP won eight ZPTCs and 130 MPTCs.

The YSRCP secured 20 ZPTCs and 1,050 MPTCs, according to the reported figures.

Reacting to the outcome, Jagan alleged that the democratic process had been undermined at various stages, from nominations to polling and counting. In a post on X, he accused officials of facing pressure and claimed that results had been manipulated in several districts.

“Chandrababu may have won the election, but he has suffered a moral defeat. We may have lost the election, but we have won the hearts of the people,” Jagan said.

He also vowed to continue raising issues concerning farmers, women, youth, employees and democracy, asserting that the YSRCP would not be discouraged by the results.

Rejecting the allegations, TDP state president Palla Srinivasa Rao termed the outcome a massive public endorsement of the NDA government’s welfare and development agenda. He claimed the alliance had achieved a 90-95 per cent strike rate and thanked the 2.6 crore voters whose participation, he said, reflected confidence in Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and the BJP leadership.

Srinivasa Rao also accused the YSRCP of attempting to obstruct the elections through nearly 63 court cases. He said the ballot-paper verdict had responded to the opposition’s earlier allegations concerning EVM manipulation.

Senior TDP leaders Alapati Rajendra Prasad and MLA Burla Ramanjaneyulu also accused the YSRCP of disrupting the counting process.

Polling recorded a turnout of 70.72 per cent, compared with 60.91 per cent in the 2021 elections. Counting was conducted at 365 centres using 9,062 tables, with extensive security arrangements.

The results have strengthened the NDA’s position in the local bodies while setting the stage for further political exchanges over the conduct of the elections and the mandate delivered by voters.