Andhra Pradesh notifies rules for direct election of mayors, civic chiefs
Andhra Pradesh issues rules for direct election of mayors and municipal chairpersons, alongside revised deputy posts and reservation rolls.
The Andhra Pradesh government has issued the statutory framework required to conduct ordinary elections for urban local bodies (ULBs), formally shifting to a system where voters directly elect their Mayors and municipal chairpersons.
The new rules, issued on Saturday, apply to municipal corporations, municipalities, and nagar panchayats. Under the amended municipal laws, the Mayor of a corporation and the chairperson of a municipality or nagar panchayat will be chosen directly by electors on the respective electoral rolls. This replaces the earlier practice where elected members and eligible ex-officio members chose these office-bearers indirectly.
The notified rules lay down the complete election procedure, including notifications, filing and scrutiny of nominations, withdrawal of candidature, publication of the final candidate list, symbol allotment, and appointment of polling agents. Provisions also cover postal ballots, voting methods (ballot paper or EVM), the NOTA option, and handling of challenged and tendered votes. Counting, result declaration, and submission of election expenditure accounts are also addressed.
A directly elected Mayor or chairperson will serve a five-year term and automatically become a member of the respective corporation or municipality by virtue of holding that office.
Separate rules have been issued for the post of Deputy Mayor in each corporation and vice-chairperson in each municipality or nagar panchayat. The number of such posts has been reduced from two to one per body. These positions will continue to be filled through indirect elections involving elected and ex-officio members. A special meeting to elect the Deputy Mayor must be convened within 15 days of the corporation's first meeting. Similar provisions, including quorum, nominations, party authorisation, voting by show of hands, and party whip rules, apply to vice-chairperson elections.
In parallel, a 14-day exercise to identify SC, ST, BC, and women voters for reservation purposes begins on September 8 across 59 ULBs, including the Vizianagaram Municipal Corporation. Final category-wise electoral rolls are scheduled for publication on September 21.
Following recent High Court orders, delimitation and electoral roll work in 41 ULBs is being expedited and is expected to conclude within a week. For 23 ULBs where court proceedings are pending, further action will follow the High Court's directives.
Municipal Administration Minister Ponguru Narayana has directed officials to adhere strictly to the prescribed timelines. Principal Secretary S. Suresh Kumar stated that the department is coordinating with district authorities and the State Election Commission to complete all preparations.