AP Local Polls: Survey Reveals New Trends

With Andhra Pradesh gearing up for the upcoming local body elections, political activity has intensified across the state. The ruling alliance comprising the TDP, Jana Sena and BJP is preparing to face the electoral battle, while the opposition YSRCP is also working to strengthen its position. Against this backdrop, Chanakya Strategies has released the findings of its latest AP Survey 2026, examining voter sentiment and the relative strength of political parties across all 175 Assembly constituencies. The survey claims to have assessed changing political equations, local developments, public opinion and the performance of elected representatives.

According to the survey, the TDP has emerged with the highest reported vote share at 46.9 per cent, followed by the YSRCP at 35 per cent. Jana Sena has been assigned a 9 per cent vote share, while the BJP stands at 3.5 per cent and other parties and candidates account for 5.6 per cent. Chanakya Strategies said the findings were based on responses from 52,500 people collected during a two-month exercise covering all 175 constituencies. The report also highlighted several government initiatives, including free bus travel for women under the Stree Shakti programme, Thalliki Vandanam, employment initiatives, Annadata Sukhibhava, the job calendar and NTR Bharosa pensions, as factors discussed during the survey.

While the report indicates continued public confidence in the administration led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, it also points to dissatisfaction with some local MLAs, MPs and other public representatives. The survey report refers to allegations surrounding corruption, sand and soil-related dealings and other local issues involving some representatives. It also notes that although the coalition leadership has been highlighting new investments and potential employment opportunities, voters are seeking greater clarity on how many industries announced through investment agreements have actually commenced operations and when the remaining projects are expected to become fully functional. These local-level concerns, according to the report, could influence political sentiment despite broader perceptions about the state government.

The survey further identifies Kadapa and Kurnool as areas where the YSRCP has strengthened its position. In Kadapa, the report claims that the opposition party is witnessing voter support in most constituencies except Kamalapuram, while in Kurnool, factors such as the performance of coalition leaders, dissatisfaction among cadres and coordination between the TDP, Jana Sena and BJP are said to be shaping the political landscape. The report has also presented constituency-wise rankings of MLAs. In its state-level chart, Mangalagiri MLA Nara Lokesh is placed first, followed by Nellore Rural MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy, Pithapuram MLA Pawan Kalyan and Palakollu MLA Nimmala Ramanaidu. The findings represent the survey organisation's reported assessment of voter sentiment ahead of the local body elections.