Hectic lobbying in TDP for mayor post

Vijayawada: With the State government intensifying preparations for elections to Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and Nagar Panchayats, lobbying for the prestigious Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) Mayor post has gathered momentum in the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

After a gap of 26 years, the State is set to witness direct elections to the posts of Mayors and Municipal Chairpersons. In the 2000 local body elections, the TDP won the Vijayawada Mayor post for the first time, with current AP Legislative Council Chief Whip Panchumarthi Anuradha becoming Mayor. Subsequently, the Congress government introduced the system of indirect elections for Mayors and Municipal Chairpersons.

The State Election Commission (SEC) is making preparations to conduct the urban local body elections, which are likely to be held in October or November. The State government has issued several orders relating to the conduct of elections through EVMs and has also taken steps towards implementing direct elections for Mayors and Municipal Chairpersons.

Against this backdrop, several TDP leaders and aspirants have begun lobbying for the VMC Mayor ticket. Former MLA Vangaveeti Radhakrishna, Vijayawada Central MLA and Government Whip Bonda Umamaheswara Rao’s son Bonda Siddhartha, former corporators Boppana Bhava Kumar, Devineni Aparna, Chennupati Gandhi and Mummaneni Prasad, former Krishna Zilla Parishad chairperson and TDP NTR district president Gadde Anuradha, and Swachh Andhra Corporation chairman Kommareddy Pattabhi are among those reportedly seeking the prestigious post. Though the SEC is yet to finalise the reservation for the Mayor post, aspirants have already intensified their efforts to secure the support of the party leadership.

Bonda Siddhartha among frontrunners

Vijayawada Central MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao is understood to have taken the lead by meeting Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu along with his son Bonda Siddhartha and submitting his biodata for consideration for the Mayor post. He reportedly explained Siddhartha’s political background and his activities in strengthening the party and working for the development of Vijayawada. Former MLA Vangaveeti Radhakrishna is also reportedly seeking the Mayor ticket. Having been waiting for nominated posts for several years, Radhakrishna is banking on his family’s political legacy and the support of followers of his father and former MLA Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga. Supporters of the Radha-Ranga Mitra Mandali have been seeking the ticket for Radhakrishna across the Vijayawada East, West and Central Assembly constituencies.

Women aspirants eye post if reserved

TDP NTR district president Gadde Anuradha and former corporator Devineni Aparna are also reportedly seeking the ticket, particularly if the Mayor post is reserved for women under the general category. Sources said their names could come into serious consideration if the reservation favours general-category women. Swachh Andhra Corporation chairman Kommareddy Pattabhi is another aspirant reportedly lobbying for the post. His supporters are highlighting his political activities and alleged struggles during the previous YSRCP government. Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath is also understood to be supporting his candidature. Former Mayor Koneru Sridhar and former corporators Boppana Bhava Kumar, Chennupati Gandhi, Mummaneni Prasad and Chennupati Usharani are also reportedly seeking consideration for the Mayor post. Interestingly, several prominent aspirants belong to the Open Category. If the Mayor post is reserved for SC, ST or BC candidates, the political equation is likely to change significantly, with new aspirants expected to emerge from within the TDP.

JSP and BJP also vie for Mayor race

Leaders of the TDP’s alliance partners, the Jana Sena Party (JSP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), are also reportedly seeking a share in the Mayor’s race. Apart from the Vijayawada Mayor post, the NTR Zilla Parishad Chairperson post is another key position likely to be contested. Political circles expect the TDP and JSP to stake claims to these positions, while the BJP could seek the Deputy Mayor and Zilla Parishad Vice-Chairperson posts, depending on the alliance’s seat-sharing arrangement.

Vangaveeti Ashalatha, daughter of former MLA Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga and sister of Radhakrishna, is also said to be interested in the Mayor post and could seek the ticket from either the TDP or the Jana Sena Party. However, she has not joined any political party so far and is reportedly backed by supporters of the Radha-Ranga Mitra Mandali.

So far, no prominent aspirants from the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) or Congress have openly staked a claim to the Mayor post.

With the reservation roster yet to be finalised, the race for the VMC Mayor post is expected to intensify in the coming days.

The final choice is likely to depend on the reservation category, the TDP leadership’s assessment of the aspirants and the seat-sharing understanding among the alliance partners.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dasari Srinivasa Rao

[email protected]

Dasari Srinivasa Rao is a Staff Reporter with The Hans India, covering NTR and Krishna districts, with a primary focus on Vijayawada. He has 32 years of experience in journalism. His reporting spans a wide range of beats, including city and rural development, politics, irrigation, education, crime, and human-interest stories.

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