AP Deputy Mayor and Vice-Chairperson Elections on 23 November 2026: How the Indirect Vote Works in 13 Corporations and 87 Municipalities

Andhra Pradesh's 13 municipal corporations will elect their deputy mayors, and 87 municipalities and nagar panchayats their vice-chairpersons, at special meetings at 11 AM on 23 November 2026. Voters don't pick these posts directly. Elected corporators and ex-officio members do, after notices go out on 18 November 2026, as per APSEC notifications of 4 November 2026.

Updated 5 November 2026

On 1 November 2026 you cast two votes in AP's urban local body elections, one for your ward member and one for your mayor or chairperson. Results came on 3 November 2026. But one more post is still empty in every town: the deputy mayor in corporations and the vice-chairperson in municipalities and nagar panchayats. On 4 November 2026 the AP State Election Commission (APSEC) fixed the dates. Here's how this indirect election works, who gets to vote, and what to watch.

Quick facts

Direct vote vs indirect vote in AP towns

AP brought back direct election of mayors and chairpersons this year, which is why you got two ballots on 1 November 2026. Our post on how the AP direct mayor election works explains that change.

The deputy posts work differently. The deputy mayor and the vice-chairperson are chosen from among the elected ward members, by the members themselves, at a special meeting. Think of it like MLAs choosing a Speaker. Your ward vote still matters, because whichever party or group has the majority of councillors in your town usually decides who becomes deputy.

The calendar

The fallback rule is spelt out in the APSEC notification itself. If the election can't happen on 23 November 2026 for any reason, it's held at the same time the next day. If it fails on 24 November 2026 too, the presiding officer reports to the SEC.

Which towns are covered

Deputy mayor (13 corporations). One APSEC notification covers 11 corporations: Vizianagaram, Eluru, Machilipatnam, Guntur, Ongole, Nellore, Tirupati, Chittoor, Kadapa, Kurnool and Ananthapuram. Separate notifications cover Vijayawada (NTR district) and the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, because those two run under their own city laws.

Vice-chairperson (87 municipalities and nagar panchayats). The SEC has asked District Collectors to authorise gazetted officers to run these elections in every municipality and nagar panchayat that went to polls on 1 November 2026.

Who gets to vote

As per the APSEC notification, the notice of the special meeting goes to:

☐ The mayor (or chairperson, in municipalities) ☐ All elected ward members ☐ All ex-officio members

Ex-officio members usually include the MLA, MP and MLC whose areas fall within the town and who have opted to be ex-officio members of that particular body. This matters a lot in close councils, because a couple of ex-officio votes can swing a deputy mayor result. If you want to know who your MLA or MP is, you can look them up on NetaSampark's Andhra Pradesh page.

How the special meeting works

The legal basis for corporations is the AP Municipal Corporations (Conduct of Election of Deputy Mayor) Rules, 2026, read with the corporation laws. The notice is in Form-II and is signed by the Collector or Joint Collector, who's been authorised by the Election Authority (the Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration).

On the day, the usual sequence looks like this:

1. Members arrive and sign the attendance register. The presiding officer checks that enough members are present to hold the meeting.

2. Names are proposed and seconded by members.

3. If only one valid candidate is proposed, that person is declared elected.

4. If there's more than one, the presiding officer takes the vote as laid down in the rules and announces the result.

5. The winner is declared elected, and the result is reported to APSEC and the government.

In past AP rounds, voting at these meetings has been by a show of hands, and parties have issued whips to their members. Anyone who defies the party line can face action under the state's anti-defection law for councillors. Check the 2026 rules for the exact method this time, since the rules are new.

Why this matters to you as a resident

A deputy mayor or vice-chairperson isn't just a ceremonial chair. They preside when the mayor or chairperson is absent, often chair standing committees, and in many towns end up handling day-to-day council work. In a divided council, the deputy post is also a bargaining chip, which is why you'll hear about camp politics and "resort" stories between 3 November 2026 and 23 November 2026.

If your ward councillor is part of that bargaining, it's fair to ask them which way they're voting and why.

What about MPP presidents, ZP chairpersons and upsarpanches?

These are separate indirect elections in rural AP. APSEC's master schedule for 2026 lists the indirect election dates for gram panchayats phase by phase:

For MPTC and ZPTC bodies (MPP president and ZP chairperson), the master schedule doesn't list dates yet as of 5 November 2026. Our explainer on how MPP presidents and ZP chairpersons are elected covers how that process works. Keep an eye on APSEC's updates for the actual notification.

For the full picture of all three rounds, see our AP local body elections 2026 guide.

Common doubts we keep seeing

"Can the mayor's party automatically name the deputy?" No. Even a directly elected mayor can't appoint the deputy. The council votes.

"Can a nominated or co-opted member contest?" The deputy posts are for elected members. Check the rules for your body if a co-opted member's name comes up.

"What if there's a tie?" The rules usually provide for a draw of lots in case of a tie. The presiding officer handles it at the meeting.

"Can the result be challenged?" Yes, through an election petition before the designated tribunal or court within the time limit in the law. Our post on election petitions after local body polls covers the general route.

Frequently asked questions

When is the AP deputy mayor election in 2026?

At 11 AM on 23 November 2026 in all 13 municipal corporations. If it can't be held that day, it happens at 11 AM on 24 November 2026.

When is the vice-chairperson election in AP municipalities?

At 11 AM on 23 November 2026 in the 87 municipalities and nagar panchayats, conducted by gazetted officers authorised by the District Collector.

Can common voters vote for the deputy mayor?

No. Only the mayor or chairperson, the elected ward members and the ex-officio members of that body can vote at the special meeting.

Who conducts the deputy mayor election?

The District Collector or Joint Collector, authorised by the Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration acting as Election Authority, under the APSEC notification of 4 November 2026.

Where can I see the official notification?

On the APSEC website, sec.ap.gov.in, under its 2026 notifications. There are separate notifications for the 11 corporations, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.

Sources

☐ APSEC: notification for deputy mayor elections in 11 municipal corporations, 4 November 2026 (PDF) ☐ APSEC: notification for deputy mayor election in Vijayawada Municipal Corporation, 4 November 2026 (PDF) ☐ APSEC: schedule for 2nd ordinary elections to local bodies, 2026 (PDF) ☐ AP State Election Commission: home page ☐ Deccan Chronicle: SEC schedules deputy mayor, vice-chairperson elections (4 November 2026)