Port city braces for high-voltage campaign

Visakhapatnam: The heat is on, politically. With parties almost completing the process of finalising candidates, those who have been allotted the ticket got down to business.

With just three weeks left for the polls, the political campaigning is picking up pace in the port city as the decked-up vehicles manoeuvre through every nook and cranny of the constituencies, reaching out to the masses.

Making the most of the campaigning, the TDP banks on the welfare schemes initiated by its government whereas the YSRCP assures to implement its 'Navaratnas', the nine pet schemes announced by the party's president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.

On the other hand, Jana Sena Party (JSP) expects an overwhelming support from the youth which itself is considered an integral part of the social transformation. Apart from the glamour quotient that draws the attention of JSP followers, power star Pawan Kalyan, contesting from Gajuwaka segment, with the support of his allies, BSP, CPI and CPM along with the Kapu community that forms a major part of the constituency's population.

About the areas that the candidates focus on during campaign, former MLA of Gajuwaka, who is now contesting from Pendurti for Jana Sena Party, Chintalapudi Venkatramaiah says, "Apart from taking the party's manifesto to the general public, the prime focus during poll campaign is on upliftment of the economically backward classes, providing job opportunities to the unemployed youth based on their qualifications and taking concrete measures to bring about significant change in the present system."

In the coming days, poll campaign is all set to intensify in all the constituencies as candidates leave no stone unturned to garner votes. Those who are following election manifesto of various parties say that they will not get carried away by mere publicity stunts. "Most people in our locality are keen on observing the party manifestos. Rather than getting carried away by their respective party affiliation, hopefully, people will make informed decisions this time," says N. Vijay Kumar, an employee.

While Pawan Kalyan is expected to file nomination in Gajuwaka on Thursday, the YSRCP candidates await the arrival of their party leader in a couple of days to rejuvenate the cadre. Buses are also getting readied as Jagan's sister Y S Sharmila and mother Y S Vijayamma are preparing to bolster the campaign through a series of road shows in various constituencies.