Kakinada and Konaseema MPTC ZPTC elections see robust turnout as boats and extended hours aid voters

What happened in the local body elections

Voters turned out in large numbers for the Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) elections across Kakinada and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema districts on Thursday, supported by flexible administrative arrangements that helped rural voters overcome adverse weather and work schedules.

Polling was extended until 8 p.m. in several parts of Kakinada district to ensure that agricultural workers could cast their votes after returning from fields affected by cyclones Arnab and Murasu. While voting was originally scheduled to end at 5 p.m., election staff allowed all voters queuing before the deadline to exercise their franchise.

In Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district, continuous rainfall prompted local authorities to arrange targeted transport infrastructure. District Collector R. Mahesh Kumar confirmed that autorickshaws and specialized boats were deployed to carry voters across waterways and rain-affected routes to designated polling stations.

How the districts voted

Both coastal districts recorded steady participation across thousands of polling centres, with election officials confirming that voting passed without incident.

In Kakinada district, overall voter turnout reached 68.85% by 8 p.m. Kotananduru mandal logged the highest turnout in the district at 77.49%. In Tuni mandal, where voting extended to 8 p.m., 48,554 voters cast their ballots to deliver a 72.19% turnout rate.

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district recorded an overall voter turnout of 62%. Official data showed seven MPTC seats were filled unanimously ahead of polling, while 885 candidates contested the remaining MPTC seats.

What happens next

Administrative preparations are underway for the counting process following the peaceful completion of voting in both districts.

Vote counting will take place on 7 November across four designated counting centres in Konaseema: Amalapuram, Kothapeta, P. Gannavaram, and Ramachandrapuram.