The Hyderabad-based party, led by Asaduddin Owaisi, has deployed six Telangana MLAs, an MLC and senior leaders to campaign in the state. The party is seeking to expand its presence beyond Telangana, where it has an established political base.

AIMIM's Andhra Pradesh in-charge Samad Bin Abdad said the party had initially filed nominations for 31 candidates before reducing the number to 20, focusing on constituencies where it believed it had a chance of winning.

The party has fielded Shaik Naseem Banu for the Kadapa mayor's post. Its candidates are contesting seven wards in Adoni, four in Hindupur and three in Vijayawada, besides one ward each in Nandyal and Penukonda and contests in Rayadurg. Six of the 20 candidates are women.

The party had previously won one ward in Hindupur and two in Adoni. Its leaders say the current elections will provide an opportunity to assess the party's support in these areas.

Several AIMIM leaders from Hyderabad have been assigned campaign responsibilities in different towns. Bahadurpura MLA Mohammed Mubeen is campaigning in Kadapa, while Malakpet MLA Ahmed Bin Abdullah is overseeing the campaign in Adoni. Nampally MLA Majid Hussain has campaigned in Anantapur, Penukonda, Hindupur and Vijayawada, while Yakutpura MLA Jaffer Hussain Meraj has visited Nandyal, Penukonda and Hindupur. MLC Riyaz ul Hasan Effendi has also joined the campaign.

Party leaders have said the exercise is part of a longer-term effort to establish a presence in Kadapa, Vijayawada, Nandyal, Anantapur and Hindupur ahead of future Assembly elections.

The AIMIM is contesting against the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-Jana Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and the Congress.

Polling for the Andhra Pradesh civic elections is scheduled for November 1, with counting of votes on November 3. The elections, originally scheduled for October 28, were postponed following Supreme Court directions relating to complaints over the nomination process.