NDA seat-sharing talks focus on mayoral posts
In Short
- Jana Sena seeks five or six corporations; BJP eyes Tirupati or Visakhapatnam
- TDP likely to contest more than 10 of 17 corporations
- Election notification is expected on November 14
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NDA seat-sharing talks focus on mayoral posts
Amaravati: The ruling NDA alliance in Andhra Pradesh is working to finalise seat-sharing for the forthcoming local body elections, with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu holding discussions with Jana Sena and BJP leaders on the distribution of municipal corporations and municipalities among the three partners.
Jana Sena Minister Nadendla Manohar and BJP state president P V N Madhav met Naidu on Monday, along with water resources minister Nimmala Ramanaidu and TDP state president Palla Srinivasa Rao. The meeting focused on accommodating the partners’ demands while ensuring coordination and preventing confusion among their cadres.
Jana Sena and the BJP have already submitted lists of constituencies they wish to contest. The latest discussions are centred on these proposals, with the parties seeking seats where they have a strong organisational presence and the alliance has a better prospect of transferring votes. Of the 17 municipal corporations, the TDP is expected to contest more than 10, while Jana Sena is seeking five or six. The BJP is also seeking a share, with Tirupati and Visakhapatnam among the options under discussion.
Jana Sena has sought mayoral contests in Kakinada, Vijayawada, Machilipatnam, Eluru and Ongole, besides a corporation in Rayalaseema. Vijayawada and Ongole remain among the key points requiring clarity, particularly over whether the TDP will concede the seats and how it will support Jana Sena candidates if an agreement is reached. The BJP is understood to be particularly interested in Tirupati.
The negotiations also cover the 106 municipalities. Jana Sena is seeking a larger share in areas where it has influence, including parts of North Andhra, Rayalaseema and the Godavari districts, as well as constituencies represented by its MLAs. The final allocation will depend on the partners’ respective demands and the need to avoid clashes at the local level.
Jana Sena chief and deputy chief minister K Pawan Kalyan has indicated that the political situation differs from that of the 2024 Assembly elections. The alliance leadership is therefore weighing local political strength, vote transfer between the three parties and the possibility of friendly contests in selected areas.
With reservations for the 17 corporations and 106 municipalities finalised, the partners are now attempting to settle the seat-sharing formula before identifying candidates and constituencies. A clearer picture is expected after the ongoing talks, possibly by Monday night or Tuesday.
The State Election Commission is scheduled to meet political parties on Tuesday. The State Election Commission is scheduled to meet political parties on Tuesday, October 13, with the election schedule expected to be announced on Wednesday, October 14, subject to the SEC’s decision. The notification for the first phase covering municipal corporations and municipalities is expected on November 14, while the notification for MPTC and ZPTC elections is expected on October 19. Notifications for Gram Panchayat elections are likely after November 11 or 12, according to the proposed schedule.
