Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh has put in place extensive security arrangements for the Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) and Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) elections scheduled for Thursday, deploying more than 40,000 police personnel across the state.
Director General of Police (DGP) Harish Kumar Gupta, a 1992-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, said the arrangements cover 17,555 polling areas and 31,472 polling stations across 28 districts. The deployment is intended to ensure peaceful, free and orderly polling for 582 ZPTC and 7,778 MPTC seats.
The police have identified 1,841 highly sensitive and 2,645 sensitive polling stations, where additional security personnel have been deployed. Gupta warned that strict action would be taken against anyone attempting to disrupt polling or disturb public order.
More Than 40,000 Personnel Deployed Across 28 Districts
According to the DGP, the overall security deployment comprises 40,679 personnel, including police officers of different ranks and specialised units.
The deployment includes:
- 38,348 police personnel: Personnel from various ranks of the state police force.
- 111 Andhra Pradesh Special Police (APSP) platoons: Deployed to strengthen security at polling locations.
- 335 Communications Wing personnel: Assigned to support communication and coordination during election duty.
The force deployment also includes route mobile teams, striking-force units, special striking-force teams and check-post personnel to respond to incidents and maintain security across polling areas.
4,486 Sensitive and Highly Sensitive Polling Stations Under Special Watch
The police have categorised 4,486 polling stations as sensitive or highly sensitive based on their security requirements.
The classification includes:
- 1,841 highly sensitive polling stations
- 2,645 sensitive polling stations
Additional personnel have been deployed at these locations to prevent intimidation, violence and other activities that could interfere with the electoral process.
The police have also established 412 check-posts and deployed 3,488 route mobile teams to monitor movement and respond to security-related incidents.
CCTV, Drones and Body Cameras to Monitor Polling
The Andhra Pradesh Police have introduced multiple monitoring mechanisms to supervise election security and maintain coordination among personnel deployed across the state.
Senior police officers will monitor the situation from the Command Control Centre at police headquarters.
The surveillance arrangements include:
- CCTV cameras: To monitor polling locations and surrounding areas.
- Videography: To record election-related activities where required.
- Drones: To support surveillance and monitor areas from the air.
- Body-worn cameras: To record the activities of police personnel on duty.
- Samarth App: To facilitate monitoring and coordination during the polling process.
A dedicated communication centre has also been established to ensure smooth information exchange between officers and personnel deployed for election duty.
DGP Warns Against Attempts to Disrupt Polling
Gupta said the police would take strict action against individuals attempting to disturb law and order or obstruct the polling process.
He emphasised that the security arrangements were designed to allow voters to exercise their franchise without fear or intimidation.
The DGP also highlighted the importance of coordination among police units and election officials in responding promptly to any untoward incident.
The deployment is intended to ensure that polling takes place peacefully across the state’s rural local body constituencies.
Polling on November 5, Counting on November 7
The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission rescheduled the ZPTC and MPTC polling from November 3 to November 5 to avoid overlapping with the counting of votes in the urban local body elections.
As per the revised schedule:
- Polling: November 5, 2026.
- Repolling, if required: November 6, 2026.
- Counting of votes: November 7, 2026, from 8 am.
The polling will cover 582 ZPTC and 7,778 MPTC seats, according to the DGP’s announcement.
As the state conducts its rural local body elections, the police administration is relying on a combination of personnel deployment, specialised units and technology-based surveillance to maintain security across polling stations.
Read Also: Andhra Pradesh DGP Warns of Strict Action Against Election Violence, Attacks on Police Personnel
