Andhra Pradesh BJP cadre staged several protests across the state demanding permission for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in mandals. And have sought permission for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in mandals. Party leaders and workers staged a sit-in. Efforts were made to surround the Collectorate and Sub-Collector in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Machilipatnam, Guntur, Ongole and Cuddapah. In Visakhapatnam, BJP leaders stormed the collectorate with an idol of Ganesha on his head. The agitators demanded that worship should be allowed in the mandals following the Kovid rules.

Meanwhile, State Endowments Minister Vellampalli Srinivas has urged BJP leaders to stay away from religious politics. He said the decision on Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations was taken with the Centre's direction. The minister said that Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is ruling the state without any caste distinction. "We have decided on Ganesh Utsav based on the guidelines given by the Centre, the central government itself has given COVID guidelines," Minister Vellampalli said.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, for the second consecutive year on Vinayaka Chaturthi, no public function will be allowed in view of the COVID-19 guidelines. Idols can be erected at private places and the festival should be completely a private affair and not public. He said that immersion processions or the use of loudspeakers or any form of public entertainment would not be allowed.

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