The Andhra Pradesh government has introduced new statutory rules enabling the direct election of Mayors and municipal chairpersons, replacing the previous indirect voting system.

  • Mayors and chairpersons will now be elected directly by voters instead of elected members.
  • A fixed five-year term has been prescribed for the directly elected heads.
  • The number of Deputy Mayors and Vice-Chairpersons has been reduced to one per body.
  • Identification of reserved category voters begins on September 8 across 59 ULBs.

In a landmark move to strengthen grassroots democracy, the Andhra Pradesh government on Saturday issued statutory rules and orders for conducting ordinary elections to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). This significant policy shift paves the way for the direct election of Mayors in municipal corporations and chairpersons in municipalities and nagar panchayats.

Under the newly amended municipal laws, the leadership of these urban bodies will no longer be chosen through indirect polls by elected members. Instead, they will be directly elected by the citizens whose names appear in the respective electoral rolls. This transition marks a major departure from the traditional system of internal selection by ex-officio and elected members.

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Structural Changes and Term Limits

The government has clearly prescribed that a directly elected Mayor or chairperson will serve a five-year term. By virtue of holding office, these leaders will also become members of their respective corporations or municipalities. The rules meticulously outline every stage of the electoral process, from the issuance of notifications and scrutiny of nominations to the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the declaration of results.

Furthermore, there is a restructuring of secondary leadership positions. The government has decided to limit the number of Deputy Mayors in municipal corporations and Vice-Chairpersons in municipalities/nagar panchayats to just one per body, reducing the previous provision of two. These specific roles will continue to be filled through indirect elections.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that moving toward direct elections is intended to enhance the political mandate of urban leaders. By eliminating the 'kingmaker' role of ward members in selecting the Mayor, the administration aims to foster a direct bond of accountability between the city's executive head and its residents.

Directly elected mayors are likely to possess greater political legitimacy and a stronger mandate to implement urban development agendas.

Preparations are currently in high gear. A 14-day exercise to identify voters belonging to SC, ST, BC, and women categories for reservation purposes is set to commence on September 8 in 59 ULBs, including the Vizianagaram Municipal Corporation. The final category-wise electoral rolls are expected to be published by September 21.

Did You Know?: Direct elections for mayors are often seen as a way to reduce political horse-trading within municipal councils.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long will the newly elected Mayors serve?
The prescribed term for the directly elected Mayor or chairperson is five years.

2. Will Deputy Mayors be elected directly?
No, Deputy Mayors and Vice-Chairpersons will still be elected indirectly by the eligible elected and ex-officio members.