A.P. government appoints special officers to ULBs

The AP government on Tuesday (March 10) issued a government order regarding the appointment of special officers in 86 urban local bodies (ULBs) where the tenure of elected representatives has expired.

There are a total of 123 ULBs in the state. Municipal elections in 2021 were held in two stages, in March and November. While 87 ULBs went to the polls in March, 13 ULBs went to the polls in November. The term of office of the elected body of 86 ULBs will end on March 17, 2026, except Eluru, where the term of the elected body will be completed in July 2026. The mandate of the 13 ULBs will end on 22 November 2026. Elections are continuing in the remaining 23 ULBs due to legal obstacles.

ULB elections will be postponed due to Census-2027, which will be held between April and September 2026 across the country. According to GORT.No. Under Act 284, special officers will be in charge of ULBs for a period of six months or until ULB elections are held, whichever occurs earlier.

Of the 86 ULBs under the survey, there are 11 municipal corporations and 75 municipalities/nagar panchayats. The 11 municipal corporations include Kadapa, Chittoor, Kurnool, Anantapur, Tiripati, Ongole, Guntur, Vijayawada, Machilipatnam, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram. District Collectors are appointed as special officers of all municipal corporations under the AP Municipal Corporations Act, 1994.

For municipalities, under the AP Municipalities Act, 1965, joint collectors, revenue divisional officers, special deputy collectors and others have been appointed as special officers.