Andhra Pradesh govt. issues rules paving way for direct election of Mayors, municipal chairpersons

The Andhra Pradesh government on Saturday issued statutory rules and orders for conducting ordinary elections to urban local bodies (ULBs), paving the way for the direct election of Mayors and chairpersons and the election of ward members.Under the amended municipal laws, Mayors of municipal corporations and chairpersons of municipalities and nagar panchayats will be elected directly by voters whose names figure in the respective electoral rolls. This replaces the earlier system of indirect election by elected members and eligible ex-officio members.The rules prescribe procedures for election notifications, filing of nominations, scrutiny and withdrawal of candidature, publication of the list of contesting candidates, allotment of symbols, appointment of polling agents, postal ballots, use of ballot papers or electronic voting machines, NOTA, challenged and tendered votes, counting and recounting, declaration of results and submission of election expenditure accounts.The directly elected Mayor or chairperson will have a five-year term and become a member of the respective corporation or municipality by virtue of holding office.The government has also issued separate rules for the election of one Deputy Mayor in each municipal corporation and one vice-chairperson in each municipality or nagar panchayat, replacing the earlier provision for two such posts. These posts will continue to be filled through indirect elections by eligible elected and ex-officio members.A special meeting to elect the Deputy Mayor must be held within 15 days of the first meeting of the corporation. Similar provisions have been prescribed for the election of vice-chairpersons, including those relating to quorum, nominations, party authorisation, voting by show of hands and party whips.Meanwhile, a 14-day exercise to identify SC, ST, BC and women voters for the purpose of reservation will begin on September 8 in 59 ULBs, including Vizianagaram Municipal Corporation and 58 municipalities and nagar panchayats. The final category-wise electoral rolls are scheduled to be published on September 21.Following recent High Court orders on delimitation, electoral-roll preparation in 41 ULBs has been taken up on priority and is expected to be completed within a week. Further action in 23 ULBs covered by pending court proceedings will be taken in accordance with the High Court’s orders.Municipal Administration Minister Ponguru Narayana directed officials to adhere strictly to the prescribed timelines. Principal Secretary S. Suresh Kumar said the department was coordinating with district and municipal authorities and the State Election Commission to complete the preparations. Published - September 05, 2026 07:59 pm IST