Counting of votes for the Andhra Pradesh MPTC and ZPTC elections began at 8 am today, with results for 8,284 seats set to be declared through the day. The State Election Commission has set up 365 counting centres across the state, and officials say each result will be announced as soon as its count ends.
The parishad elections are the biggest local body exercise in the state this year. Polling was held on Thursday, November 5, for 577 Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) seats and 7,707 Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) seats, and the final voter turnout was 70.72 per cent. More than 1.5 crore votes were polled across the state.
Postal ballots are being counted first at every centre, followed by the ballot papers from the ballot boxes. Counting tables have been split equally, with half earmarked for ZPTC votes and the rest for MPTC votes.
What is being counted today
Andhra Pradesh has 659 ZPTC seats and 9,821 MPTC seats in all. Of these, 77 ZPTC members and 2,051 MPTC members were already elected unopposed before polling day, so today’s counting covers the seats that actually went to a vote.
- ZPTC seats: 659 in total, 77 unopposed, 577 contested
- MPTC seats: 9,821 in total, 2,051 unopposed, 7,707 contested
- Counting centres: 365 across the state
- Counting tables: 9,062
- Voter turnout: 70.72 per cent
The counting is taking place at one centre per mandal, where all the MPTC seats of that mandal and its ZPTC seat are counted together. State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha said elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure the process stays smooth, transparent and peaceful.
Tight security at counting centres
Security has been stepped up sharply for counting day. The State Election Commission has put a three-tier security arrangement in place, with 19,885 police personnel deployed at the 365 counting centres and their surrounding areas. CCTV cameras are watching the counting halls, and only authorised staff and candidates’ agents are being allowed inside.
The caution follows a tense polling day. Voting on November 5 saw scattered incidents of violence, clashes and allegations of irregularities in several districts, and 37 incidents were reported across the state. Turnout had crossed 58 per cent by 3 pm on polling day before climbing to the final figure of 70.72 per cent.
Re-polling was also held on Friday, November 6, at affected booths in Anantapur, Kurnool, Srikakulam, Markapuram and Palnadu districts, after reports of booth capturing and damage to ballot boxes. Polling in five mandals had to be postponed because of heavy rain and was held later.
What happens after the results
Once the counting is complete, the focus shifts to who runs the parishads. The presidents of the Mandal Parishads and the chairpersons of the Zilla Parishads will be elected at special meetings scheduled for November 11 and 12.
These are the second general elections to the MPTCs and ZPTCs, and the outcome will show the strength of the main parties at the grassroots. The ruling Telugu Desam Party and the opposition YSR Congress Party are the principal contenders, with the Congress and other parties also in the fray in several mandals.
The parishad results come days after the municipal election results on November 3, in which 3,915 of 3,942 wards were declared. Together, the two rounds complete the local body election cycle that the State Election Commission notified in October.
Why these polls matter
ZPTC and MPTC members decide how rural development money is spent in their areas, from roads and drinking water to schools and health centres. The Zilla Parishad chairperson and Mandal Parishad presidents also shape local governance for the next five years, which is why parties fight these elections hard even though they rarely make national headlines.
For voters, the results decide who they approach for everyday civic work. For the parties, the numbers offer the clearest read yet of their organisation on the ground since the last major election, mandal by mandal and district by district.
Results are being declared through the day as counting finishes in each centre, and the full picture should be clear by late evening.
FAQs
When did counting for the AP MPTC and ZPTC elections begin?
Counting began at 8 am on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 365 centres across Andhra Pradesh. Postal ballots are counted first, followed by ballot papers.
How many seats are being counted?
Votes are being counted for 577 ZPTC seats and 7,707 MPTC seats, a total of 8,284 seats. Another 77 ZPTC and 2,051 MPTC members were elected unopposed.
What was the voter turnout?
The final turnout was 70.72 per cent, with more than 1.5 crore votes polled on November 5.
When will the Zilla Parishad chairpersons be chosen?
Mandal Parishad presidents and Zilla Parishad chairpersons will be elected at special meetings on November 11 and 12.
Where can voters check the official results?
The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission publishes official results on its portal, sec.ap.gov.in, and the results are also announced at each counting centre.
Counting is under way across Andhra Pradesh, and this story will be updated as the results come in.
