GVMC Election Counting: TDP Takes Early Lead in Visakhapatnam
Vote counting for GVMC elections begins at Andhra University. TDP leads in 8 wards and the mayoral race. Get the latest updates here.
The race for control of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has officially entered its final stage. GVMC election counting commenced on Tuesday at Andhra University, with early trends suggesting a strong start for the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) both in the mayoral race and across various wards.
The Mayoral Battle: Early Numbers
As the counting process unfolded, the initial figures for the mayoral contest showed a clear lead for the TDP. By 8:50 AM, the breakdown of votes was as follows:
- Telugu Desam Party (TDP): 53 votes
- YSR Congress Party (YSRCP): 29 votes
- Congress: 2 votes
- Other Candidates: 31 votes
Ward-Wise Trends
The competition remains intense across the city's wards. Early trends indicate that the TDP is currently leading in eight wards. Following them is the YSRCP, which holds a lead in five wards. The Jana Sena party is leading in two wards, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and an Independent candidate are each leading in one ward.
Massive Infrastructure for Counting
To ensure a smooth and efficient process, the administration transformed the Andhra University campuses into a counting hub. The scale of the operation includes:
- Counting Halls: 113 halls established across the North and South campuses.
- Counting Tables: 1,507 tables set up to handle the ballots.
- Personnel: Approximately 5,000 staff members deployed for counting duties.
- Layout: Eight blocks are operational at the AU North Campus, with an additional two blocks at the South Campus.
Timeline and Process
The day began early, with strong rooms being opened at 6 AM in the presence of election agents and candidates. The official counting started at 8 AM, prioritizing postal ballots. By 8:30 AM, postal ballot counting was already completed for wards 23, 43, 56, and 89.
Election officials have aimed for maximum efficiency, with arrangements made to conclude the counting within a maximum of two rounds. While ward member results will be announced immediately upon the completion of each ward's count, the final result for the mayoral election will only be declared once every ward has been processed.
Security and Oversight
To maintain transparency and accuracy, a three-tier police security system has been implemented at the counting centers. The entire exercise is being closely monitored by top officials, including:
- M. Abhishikth Kishore: District Collector and Election Officer
- Shankhabrata Bagchi: Commissioner of Police
- Ketan Garg: GVMC Commissioner
State-Wide Local Body Polls
The activity in Visakhapatnam is part of a larger democratic exercise across Andhra Pradesh. Counting began on Tuesday for 92 urban local bodies, which includes 13 municipal corporations and 79 municipalities and Nagar Panchayats. These elections were held on November 1, with polling taking place from 7 AM to 5 PM.