Local Polls: First Real Test of TDP-NDA’s Grassroots Strength

The TDP-led NDA government in Andhra Pradesh is heading for its first major political test at the grassroots level, with local body elections expected to be held soon. The government has indicated its desire to complete the election process by October, while preparations are already under way. These elections will provide an early indication of how the people perceive the performance of the alliance government since it came to power in 2024.

Though local issues will naturally dominate the campaign, the performance of village panchayats, accessibility of MLAs, delivery of government schemes and development works will all come under scrutiny. Since these will be the first local elections after the NDA government assumed office, the results could also offer clues about whether the 2024 Assembly mandate has translated into sustained grassroots support.

The TDP-led NDA government is confident of performing strongly, pointing to the implementation of several electoral promises and welfare schemes. According to official accounts, it has implemented programmes including NTR Bharosa, Deepam-2, Thalliki Vandanam, Annadata Sukhibhava and Stree Shakti.

The government has also pushed development works in Amaravati, accelerated work on Polavaram, taken up road works and focused on irrigation. It has sought to improve school infrastructure and introduce measures aimed at strengthening government schools. Women-focused economic programmes and skill-development initiatives for youth have also been taken up.

Another significant area is government recruitment. The government has revived, expedited, and completed recruitment processes while issuing fresh notifications. APPSC records show selections in 2026 not only against new notifications but also against some earlier notifications, including Group-I and Group-II recruitment.

The government also conducted the Mega DSC, filling 16,347 teacher posts across government, ZP, MP, municipal, tribal welfare, BC welfare and social welfare schools, besides residential and model schools.

The opposition YSRCP, however, continues to allege that the government is steeped in corruption and has failed to fulfil its electoral promises. It has also sought to attack the government over the prices of essential commodities, including rice and onions. Whether this narrative gains traction at the grassroots will be one of the important questions before the polls.

For the YSRCP, the challenge is compounded by its difficulty in maintaining sustained contact with voters after its defeat in the 2024 Assembly elections. Its protests and campaign activities have so far not produced a broad political narrative capable of seriously challenging the ruling alliance. The party has also faced defections and internal organisational challenges.

The Congress unfortunately has no strong leader nor proper cadre. They have failed to revive the party since 2014 when the state was bifurcated, and they lost the elections.

The local polls will, however, be different from an Assembly election. Candidate selection, caste and community equations, money power, factional alignments and the personal standing of candidates can often prove decisive. Local grievances can also override larger political narratives. Even an otherwise favourable political climate for the ruling alliance cannot completely eliminate local anti-incumbency.

The government has also changed the electoral framework for urban local bodies. Under the new system, voters will directly elect mayors of municipal corporations and chairpersons of municipalities and nagar panchayats, while deputy mayors and vice-chairpersons will continue to be elected indirectly. The statutory rules for these elections were notified in September.

Another major factor is the enhanced reservation for Backward Classes. The government has announced 34% reservation for BCs in rural local bodies and 33.33% in urban local bodies, presenting it as fulfilment of an important 2024 electoral promise. The issue is already facing legal scrutiny, with the Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking clarification on the basis for the 34% quota.

The TDP, Jana Sena and BJP have begun coordinating their political campaign. For the alliance, the local elections are an opportunity to demonstrate that the 2024 mandate is not merely an Assembly-level phenomenon but has translated into organisational strength at the village and ward levels.

The YSRCP, on the other hand, has to demonstrate that its substantial pre-2024 grassroots network remains intact after two years in opposition. Its position on Amaravati is another issue it will have to explain. Jagan Mohan Reddy had supported Amaravati as the capital before 2019, but his government subsequently pursued the three-capital proposal. His more recent reference to the Machilipatnam-Vijayawada-Guntur region as a possible combined capital has also become part of the political debate.

At the same time, the ruling alliance cannot afford complacency. Local issues can quickly become larger political issues. Questions concerning drinking water, roads, drainage, irrigation, civic services and alleged corruption involving local leaders can influence voter sentiment. Rajahmundry's demand for a more reliable Godavari-based drinking-water supply is one example of how a specific local issue can become politically significant.

Therefore, these elections will not simply be a referendum on the schemes of the TDP-led government or the performance of the YSRCP in opposition. They will test the organisational strength of both sides, the credibility of their local candidates and their ability to address issues that matter to voters in their immediate surroundings.

For the ruling alliance, the challenge is to convert the 2024 mandate into durable grassroots political strength. For the YSRCP, the challenge is to demonstrate that two years in opposition have not eroded its village-level network.

The BC reservation issue, candidate selection, alliance coordination, local governance and constituency-specific grievances are likely to be among the central factors.

The most important outcome, therefore, may not simply be the number of mayors, chairpersons or panchayat presidents won by either side. It will be what these elections reveal about the changing political map of Andhra Pradesh at the grassroots level.

The local body polls could consequently become an important early indicator of how the State's political landscape is evolving ahead of the 2029 Assembly election. For both the ruling alliance and the opposition, they will also provide an opportunity for course correction.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gowri V

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A Journey of Three Decades Time passes faster than we realise. What feels like a journey that began only yesterday has today grown into more than three decades of a meaningful and fulfilling life devoted to education, journalism, and the empowerment of young minds. My professional journey began with journalism training in New Delhi in 1979. I went on to work as an independent journalist, drawing on my fluency in both English and Telugu. Over the years, I have edited and worked on Telugu articles in both languages, an experience that strengthened my command of language and sharpened my understanding of society, people, and contemporary issues. Yet, my principal profession and enduring passion have always been teaching. My decision to become a teacher was not merely a career choice—it was a calling. Teaching offered me the rare privilege of inspiring young minds, guiding them through their formative years, and making a lasting difference in their lives. I found immense satisfaction in simplifying complex concepts, nurturing curiosity, encouraging independent thought, and building confidence among students. Every moment in the classroom—every question, every moment of discovery, and every spark of understanding—reminded me why I had chosen this path: to empower young people through knowledge, values, and essential life skills. My teaching career began at the grassroots level as a Montessori teacher and gradually progressed to the position of Vice Principal. I had the opportunity to work in reputed educational institutions, including Dilsukhnagar Public School in Hyderabad, where I shouldered both teaching and administrative responsibilities. Although I have always considered myself, at heart, a teacher, my administrative experience enabled me to understand and contribute to the education system from a much broader perspective. For my students, I have always tried to be an approachable and dependable presence—someone they could turn to not only for academic support, but also for guidance and emotional encouragement. At the same time, I developed a reputation as a firm disciplinarian who believed that integrity, fairness, responsibility, and discipline were fundamental to education. I was also consistently appreciated for maintaining clear communication with parents and staff and for ensuring that examinations and other academic processes were conducted with transparency, fairness, and efficiency. As my career progressed, however, I began to feel that academic education alone was not enough. This realization led me to work more closely with students following the SSC and CBSE curricula, while consciously bringing life-skills education into my teaching. I came to understand that education becomes truly meaningful when it prepares children not merely to pass examinations, but to face life. Teaching emotional resilience, self-reliance, social awareness, communication, decision-making, and other practical life skills often had a deeper and more lasting impact than academic achievement alone. I saw how these skills could help students navigate challenges with greater confidence, maturity, and responsibility. My academic background provided a strong foundation for this approach. My degree in Psychology from the University of Madras helped me develop a deeper understanding of young people's minds, their emotional needs, and the influence of their family and social environments. My M.A. in Telugu with First Class from Osmania University.

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