Amaravati, 3 November (H.S.): The Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured major victories in several municipalities across Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, winning all wards in Kuppam and Macherla and majorities in Yemmiganur, Narasapuram and Palasa-Kasibugga, while maintaining a substantial lead in the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC).

In Kuppam, the home constituency of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the TDP won all 32 wards, leaving the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) without a seat. In Macherla, the alliance secured all 36 wards, with the TDP winning 32, Jana Sena Party three and the BJP one.

The alliance also won 38 of the 44 wards in Yemmiganur, 31 of 36 in Narasapuram and 31 of 36 in Palasa-Kasibugga. In Tenali municipality, the alliance secured 46 of the 52 wards, comprising 29 for the TDP, 16 for Jana Sena and one for the BJP.

The elections covered 92 urban local bodies, comprising 13 municipal corporations and 79 municipalities and Nagar Panchayats, with a total of 3,186 wards. Polling was held on November 1, followed by repolling in selected areas on November 2.

Of the 96,89,061 registered voters, 60,22,411 exercised their franchise, recording an overall turnout of 62.16 per cent. Chimakurthi registered the highest turnout at 84.36 per cent, while Tirupati recorded the lowest at 46.85 per cent.

In the GVMC, TDP mayoral candidate Mukka Sravani was leading YSRCP candidate Varudu Kalyani by nearly 1.20 lakh votes in the provisional count available at 4.52 pm. Of the votes counted at that stage, the TDP had secured 2,56,881, compared with 1,37,194 for the YSRCP, 5,484 for the Congress and 37,163 for other candidates.

The alliance also maintained leads in several other urban local bodies, including Guntur, Vizianagaram, Chittoor and Kurnool. In Tirupati, TDP candidate J. B. Srinivas won the Municipal Corporation mayoral contest by a margin of 24,625 votes.

In Srikakulam district, the TDP won 31 of the 36 wards in Palasa-Kasibugga, while the YSRCP secured four and an Independent candidate one. In one ward where the TDP and YSRCP candidates received equal votes, the YSRCP candidate was declared the winner through a draw of lots.

In West Godavari district, the alliance won 31 of the 36 wards in Narasapuram, with the YSRCP securing four and an Independent candidate one. Jana Sena candidate Kothapalli Sailaja won the municipal chairperson's post.

In Rayalaseema, the TDP also secured victories in Rajampet, Rayachoti, Mydukur, Proddatur and Kamalapuram municipalities in Kadapa district. The BJP won Yerraguntla. In Pulivendula, the TDP maintained a lead after counting in 30 of the 40 wards, with the party winning 25 of the wards counted at that stage.

In Madanapalle municipality, results were declared for 35 of the 48 wards, with the TDP winning 16, the YSRCP eight, Jana Sena four, the BJP three and Independent candidates four. In Kalyandurg municipality, the TDP secured several wards, while Jana Sena and the YSRCP also won seats. Jana Sena candidate Eshwar won the Puttaparthi municipal chairperson's post by a margin of 1,530 votes.

The NDA also secured victories in Venkatagiri and Sullurpeta municipalities. In Eluru district, Jana Sena candidate Jyothi won the Nidadavolu municipal chairperson's post, while alliance candidates secured victories in other municipalities, including Jangareddygudem, Uyyuru and Pedana.

Cyclone disrupts counting

Heavy rainfall associated with Cyclone Murasu disrupted counting in several coastal districts. In Vijayawada, the counting process began after 2 pm and proceeded slowly due to adverse weather conditions. Counting in Chirala municipality in Bapatla district was postponed and is scheduled to resume on November 6.

Naidu attributes results to governance

Reacting to the results, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said the outcome reflected public support for the ruling alliance and attributed the performance to its focus on governance, welfare initiatives and development programmes.

Reiterating his commitment to Good Politics, Good Governance, Naidu said the government would give priority to resolving public grievances rather than engaging in partisan politics.

He said he had spent the preceding three days working on cyclone relief operations and outlined the government's priorities, including irrigation projects, completion of the Polavaram project, delivery of water through Veligonda, acceleration of works in the Amaravati capital region and reconstruction of damaged roads. He added that the government was committed to addressing public grievances irrespective of political affiliation, caste or creed.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar