NDA eyes unanimous wins as nominations close for ULBs

Amaravati: The nomination process for elections to 100 urban local bodies (ULBs) in Andhra Pradesh ended on Sunday amid clashes, allegations of intimidation, and a major setback for the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in several of its strongholds. Thousands of candidates filed nominations on the final day, with the NDA alliance likely to secure unopposed victories in areas where the opposition party failed to field nominees.

Elections will be held for 13 municipal corporations, 77 municipalities, and 10 nagar panchayats. Nominations will be scrutinised on Monday, withdrawal closes on October 21, polling is scheduled for October 28 and counting on October 30.

The YSRCP's difficulties were particularly evident in Kadapa district. It failed to file nominations in 16 of Pulivendula municipality's 40 wards, 19 wards in Proddatur, and 54 wards in the Kadapa Municipal Corporation. Its candidates could not file nominations for chairperson and councillor posts in Yerraguntla and Kamalapuram. In Rajampet and Badvel, chairperson candidates filed papers, but no nominations were submitted for ward councillor seats.

YSRCP leaders alleged that house arrests and police restrictions prevented candidates from reaching nomination centres before the 3:00 pm deadline. Police were deployed near the residence of Kadapa MP Y S Avinash Reddy and around party premises in Pulivendula.

The setback extended to other districts as well. In Punganur, Chittoor district, former minister Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy announced the YSRCP's withdrawal, accusing the TDP of intimidation and unlawful actions. In Palnadu district, the party filed no nominations for chairperson or councillor posts in Gurajala and Piduguralla. In Dachepalli, only one chairperson nomination was filed. In Darsi, Prakasam district, the YSRCP failed to field candidates for the chairperson's post. It also alleged that TDP leaders prevented nominations in four wards in Tadipatri. Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy said NDA candidates had won unopposed in Rayachoti. Further uncontested victories for the TDP, Jana Sena, and BJP are possible where the YSRCP failed to nominate candidates. Violence marred the process. Police registered cases naming 562 YSRCP workers over Saturday's clashes in Pulivendula, where security remained tight. In Darsi, sub-inspector Yedukondalu sustained a serious head injury after allegedly being struck with a flagpole during a confrontation with YSRCP workers.

Meanwhile, prominent mayoral candidates filed nominations amid rallies. In Vijayawada, NDA candidate Vangaveeti Radhakrishna and YSRCP nominee Rayana Bhagyalakshmi entered the contest. Abdul Abeeda filed for the alliance in Machilipatnam, Mukka Sravani in Visakhapatnam, Kovelamudi Lakshmi Aparna for the TDP in Guntur and Matti Suvarna for the alliance in Kadapa.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

K Varaprasada Rao

K Varaprasada Rao[email protected]

K Varaprasada Rao is a Senior Reporter with The Hans India, covering the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat, Chief Minister's Office (CMO), State Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council and political affairs. With over 20 years of experience in journalism in Andhra Pradesh, he has extensively reported on governance, public policy, politics, and socio-economic issues that shape the state's development and influence the country's evolving landscape. He holds a postgraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. His reporting focuses on finance, industries, irrigation, agriculture, infrastructure, investment, public administration, and political developments, with a particular interest in analysing their long-term economic and social impact.

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