Desam gears up for civic polls

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, May 26, 2014: After general elections are over, apart from the issue of the new capital, focus has also shifted towards polls for urban civic bodies that were not held due to various reasons.  Polls were held for various civic bodies in March across the state and TD won maximum in Andhra Pradesh.

Polls for Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) were not held due to various issues raised out of the state government’s proposal to merge Anakapalle and Bheemili municipalities into GVMC. There were no objections for the merger of Anakapalle municipality, but a few locals of Bheemili approached court opposing the merger move.

Though polls are yet to be announced by the concerned, TD has already set its sights on GVMC.  It is expected that after TD chief  N Chandrbabu Naidu forms his government, he would  see to that polls for GVMC are held as early as possible keeping in mind the feel good factor the party is enjoying since winning civic bodies, local bodies, assembly and parliament polls.

Vizag has been without a mayor with the term of GVMC's first civic body led by  P Janardhana Rao belonging to Congress expired on February 25, 2012. Since then, GVMC has been administered by a special officer of the rank of principal secretary in the AP Secretariat.

TD leaders and cadre are also upbeat and want the polls for GVMC to be held soon. They have also started strategizing for the polls. YSRC having lost all the assembly segments coming under GVMC limits and the Lok Sabha seat to TD and BJP combine, its cadre is in utter dismay and seems to be directionless.

Of the total 72 wards, while the TD and its allies CPI and CPM had 35 corporators in last GVMC body, Congress was left 26 after 11 of its corporators changed its loyalties to YSRC. Congress Corporator G V Ravi Raju who had switched over to YSRC expecting to get a Assembly ticket had recently just before the general polls joined BJP.

Likewise majority of those owed allegiance to YSRC are now either in a dilemma on continuing in the party due to the bleak chances of the party winning GVMC polls or already shifted loyalties to TD.

Meanwhile, Congress cadres and leaders are nowhere to see and enthusiasm is definitely missing in them on the GVMC polls after the party’s total rout in general polls.

“We want GVMC polls as early as possible. We are sure to win maximum wards. I doubt if other parties will find any persons to contest,” said Kona Tata Rao, TD’s former floor leader in GVMC.