Thursday, November 5
Englishहिंदी
Get the 7 am briefing
India and the world,
in English and Hindi
MarketsAndhra PradeshUnited StatesPara sportCourtsTirupatiAndhra Pradesh
Sensex 79,310.01 +2.60%Nifty 50 24,536.60 +2.40%₹ / $ 94.47

StatesAndhra Pradesh

Andhra parishad polling ends; officials estimate 65% to 68% turnout, counting on November 7

Voting for mandal and zilla parishads closed at 5 pm after a slow, rain-hit morning and a busy afternoon. Officials expect the final figure to land between 65% and 68%.

From the editorial desk · VijayawadaPublished
Updated
Women voters queue to vote at a polling booth in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh (file photo)
Women voters queue to vote at a polling booth in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh (file photo)Election Commission of India / Wikimedia

Key points

  1. Officials put their preliminary estimate for the close of the MPTC and ZPTC polls at 65% to 68%; the final figure is still awaited.
  2. Turnout had nearly doubled in the afternoon, from 30.50% at 1 pm to 58.55% two hours later.
  3. Ballot boxes are in strong rooms and votes will be counted on November 7.

Polling in Andhra Pradesh’s mandal and zilla parishad elections closed at 5 pm on Thursday, November 5, 2026, and election officials put the likely final turnout at 65% to 68%, though the official figure is still awaited. Statewide turnout had reached 58.55% in the afternoon count. Voters still standing in line at closing time were allowed to cast their ballots.

The afternoon changed the day. Rain held voters back in many villages in the morning, and turnout stood at only 30.50% at 1 pm. Over the next two hours turnout nearly doubled as people crowded into polling stations once the weather eased.

Officials have not yet released a final figure. Their preliminary estimate is 65% to 68% for the full day. They said voting was strong in parts of Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra, and somewhat lower in some tribal and coastal areas.

Election officials carry a ballot box at a counting centre (file photo)
Ballot boxes from Thursday's vote were sealed and moved to guarded strong rooms; here, officials carry a ballot box at a counting centre (file photo).Election Commission of India / Wikimedia

The day was not free of trouble. Supporters of the YSRCP and the ruling TDP clashed at some polling stations in Palnadu, Anantapur, Chandragiri and NTR districts, with shoving, sticks and stones and, in a few places, petrol bombs. Police moved in quickly and polling was not seriously disrupted, officials said.

What happens next

About 21,012 candidates contested the remaining seats after 2,128 seats were decided unopposed, 77 for zilla parishads and 2,051 for mandal parishads. A re-poll may be held on November 6 at any station where serious irregularities are confirmed.

Votes will be counted on November 7, with results due the same day. Elections for mandal parishad presidents and zilla parishad chairpersons follow on November 11 and 12.

Updated November 5, 2026, 8:20 pm IST: This story was updated after it was first published.