G.O. issued on 33.33% quota for Backward Classes in ULB elections in Andhra Pradesh

G.O. Issued on 33.33% quota for Backward Classes in ULB elections in Andhra Pradesh Elections to be conducted for 100 out of 123 ULBs in the State; G.O.

Key points

• 1065 on Wednesday (August 19, 2026), paving the way for election preparations throughout the State.
• The order additionally highlighted the 16th Finance Commission's Operational Guidelines, under which a duly constituted Urban Local Body was essential for eligibility for Finance Commission grants.
• The elections would be conducted for 100 out of 123 ULBs in the State, excluding the remaining.
• In fact, this is one of the poll promises of the NDA during the 2024 general elections.

Andhra Pradesh has cleared a policy step for holding ordinary elections to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), authorising the implementation of the 33.33% reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and Nagar Panchayats.

Principal Secretary to Administration S. Suresh Kumar published G.O. Rt. No. 1065 on Wednesday (August 19, 2026), paving the way for election preparations throughout the State.

Notably, the elections would be conducted for 100 out of 123 ULBs in the State, excluding the remaining. It were pending in court cases and other legal problems.

In practice, the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Department remarked the decision was aimed at completing preparatory activities within a time-bound framework so that the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission could proceed with the election process in accordance with law.

According to The order, article 243-U provides for five-year municipal terms, while Articles 243-K and 243-ZA vest the State Election Commission with control over electoral rolls and local-body elections.

In practice, the order additionally highlighted the 16th Finance Commission's Operational Guidelines, under which a duly constituted Urban Local Body was essential for eligibility for Finance Commission grants. Timely elections, therefore, were considered significant for democratic governance as well as securing grants meant for ULBs.

Based on a report submitted by the Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration, the Administration permitted steps for ordinary elections to ULBs whose elected councils had already completed their terms and those whose terms were due to expire within the ensuing three months.

In practice, the MA&UD Department and the Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration were authorised to coordinate with the State Election Commission and other authorities for completing pre-election requirements, including electoral rolls, ward-related processes, reservation notifications and other statutory formalities.

Meanwhile, the Administration specifically ordered implementation of one-third (33.33%) BC reservations under the Andhra Pradesh Municipal Corporations Act, 1994, and the Andhra Pradesh Municipalities Act, 1965, for the respective urban local bodies.

In short, G.O. Issued on 33.33% quota for Backward Classes in ULB elections in is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.