India
69 Amaravati Villages Postponed from Local Body Elections
In the lead‑up to Andhra Pradesh’s local body elections, 69 villages within the Amaravati region will not vote, as the state is developing a separate governance framework for the new capital. The villages, located in the Tadikonda, Pedakurapadu, Guntur East and Guntur West Assembly constituencies, lie within the proposed Amaravati Outer Ring Road. Farmers in 29 of these villages have already transferred their agricultural land under the first phase of the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS‑1), and the scheme is ongoing in seven villages under LPS‑2. The remaining 33 villages are also excluded from the upcoming polls. In addition to the 29 habitations covered by LPS‑1, another 40 panchayats are not participating. The habitations covered under LPS‑1 also did not vote in the previous term.
In Tadikonda mandal of the Tadikonda Assembly constituency, the panchayats of Mothadaka, Bandarupalli, Bezathpuram, Garikapadu, Pamulapadu, Mukkamala, Kantheru, Ravela, Ponnekallu, Damarapalli, Tadikonda, Phanidharam, Lacchanna Gudipudi, Lam and Nidumukkala, as well as Varagani, Mandapadu, Visadala, Perecherla and Gundlapalem in Medikonduru mandal, are excluded from the polls. In Amaravati mandal of the Pedakurapadu Assembly constituency, the panchayats of Vykuntapuram, Karlapudi, Lemalle, Pedamadduru, Endrayi, Chavapadu, Nemalikallu, Mandepudi, Unguturu, Dharanikota, Lingapuram, Muttayapalem, Narukullapadu and Enikepadu are not voting. Balusupadu, Khambhampadu and Patibandla in Pedakurapadu mandal are also among the panchayats not participating. Jonnalagadda in the Guntur East Assembly constituency and Chinna Palakaluru in the Guntur West Assembly constituency are excluded as well.
Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister Ponguru Narayana said that elections in villages where land pooling is underway have been postponed for the time being, citing issues related to the process. He added that the government is prioritising the development of farmers’ returnable plots, roads, and other infrastructure, including iconic towers, the Assembly, the Andhra Pradesh High Court and government buildings, according to stipulated targets.
MA&UD Principal Secretary S. Suresh Kumar said the government is studying governance models of leading global capital cities to finalise the most suitable model for Amaravati. "The aim is to identify the most suitable model for Amaravati, which can be implemented after construction of the capital city is completed. The government intends to develop Amaravati as a world‑class capital with a governance framework reflecting that ambition," he said.
Frequently asked questions
Why were 69 villages in Amaravati excluded from the local body elections?
They were excluded because the state is developing a separate governance framework for the new capital and elections in villages where land pooling is underway have been postponed.
What is the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) mentioned in the article?
The Land Pooling Scheme (LPS-1) involves farmers transferring their agricultural land; 29 villages have already transferred land under LPS-1, and 7 villages are under LPS-2.
Which villages or panchayats are excluded from the polls?
Villages such as Jonnalagadda in Guntur East and Chinna Palakaluru in Guntur West, and panchayats like Mothadaka, Bandarupalli, Bezathpuram, Garikapadu, Pamulapadu, Mukkamala, Kantheru, Ravela, Ponnekallu, Damarapalli, Tadikonda, Phanidharam, Lacchanna Gudipudi, Lam, Nidumukkala, Varagani, Mandapadu, Visadala, Perecherla, Gundlapalem, Vykuntapuram, Karlapudi, Lemalle, Pedamadduru, Endrayi, Chavapadu, Nemalikallu, Mandepudi, Unguturu, Dharanikota, Lingapuram, Muttayapalem, Narukullapadu, Enikepadu, Balusupadu, Khambhampadu, and Patibandla are among those excluded.