Race for GVMC polls intensifies in Visakhapatnam, administration fine-tunes logistics

Preparations for the ensuing local body polls have gathered momentum with the district administration stepping up arrangements and political parties strengthening their grassroot networks across the city.

While the district administration and the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) are focusing on advance planning for the administrative and logistical requirements, political parties have begun mobilising cadres at the ward-level ahead of the polls.

Polling material has started reaching the city and is being kept at designated distribution centres, adding to the election atmosphere. District Collector Abhishikt Kishore and GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg have been holding meetings with representatives of various political parties as part of efforts to ensure the smooth and orderly conduct of the elections.

Mr. Garg recently inspected several locations proposed for setting up polling material distribution centres in different zones, including the Government Polytechnic College and the SVLN Zilla Parishad Boys High School at Gopalapatnam. He directed officials to finalise polling routes to facilitate the timely transportation of election material from the distribution centres to the respective polling stations.

Meanwhile, political activity has intensified across the three major parties, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Jana Sena Party (JSP) and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). Senior party leaders, MLAs and election coordinators have been holding a series of meetings with the cadres, while former corporators and ward-level leaders have started stepping up their activities.

Following the resignation of YSRCP Bheemunipatnam coordinator, Majji Srinivasa Rao, the party has appointed Botcha Anusha, daughter of YSRCP MLC Botcha Satyanarayana, to fill the organisational vacuum. She recently met the party cadre at PM Palem for the first time following her appointment.

At the ward level, several former corporators, particularly in the suburban areas, are reportedly stepping up efforts to complete pending civic works and strengthen their connect with residents ahead of the elections.

The expansion of the GVMC from the existing 98 wards to 120 wards has opened up considerable scope for new political aspirants. While former corporators are keen on retaining their political influence and securing nominations in several existing wards, a number of new aspirants are also reportedly approaching their respective party leaderships seeking tickets from the newly created wards.

Meanwhile, several senior TDP leaders who had not secured prominent positions during the 2023 general election period are seeking an opportunity to lead the GVMC as Mayor, sources said. Some of these leaders are reportedly backed by MLAs and other senior party functionaries, while a section of younger aspirants is also said to be lobbying for the post.

However, TDP Andhra Pradesh president Palla Srinivasa Rao recently indicated that the selection of candidates would be taken up only after the reservation equations were finalised. The candidates would be selected jointly by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, JSP president K. Pawan Kalyan and BJP President P.V.N. Madhav, he said.

On the YSRCP side too, the Mayor’s post is understood to have attracted interest. Sources said some former MLAs were keen on entering the GVMC electoral fray and were willing to contest for the Mayor’s post, subject to the approval of YSRCP president and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.