ULB nominations conclude peacefully

Vijayawada: The nomination process for Urban Local Body (ULB) elections in NTR and Krishna districts concluded peacefully on Sunday, the final day for filing papers, with candidates from major political parties and independents submitting nominations for mayoral, municipal chairperson, corporator and ward member posts.

Authorities made elaborate security arrangements across the two districts in view of reports of election-related incidents in Rayalaseema. Police personnel were deployed at nomination centres to regulate the movement of supporters, maintain law and order and prevent clashes between rival political groups.

The process concluded without any untoward incidents in the two districts.

Vijayawada witnessed considerable political activity as the three principal contenders for Mayor’s post — NDA-backed Jana Sena Party candidate and former MLA Vangaveeti Radhakrishna, YSRCP candidate and former Mayor Rayana Bhagya Lakshmi, and independent candidate and retired IPS officer AB Venkateswara Rao — filed their nominations.

A total of 20 nominations were filed for Vijayawada Mayor post. Vangaveeti Radhakrishna took out a rally after paying tributes to his father, former MLA Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga Rao.

His mother and former MLA Ratnakumari, wife Pushpavalli, TDP NTR district president and former ZP chairperson Gadde Anuradha, Jana Sena NTR district president Samineni Udayabhanu, former MLC Buddha Venkanna and other leaders accompanied him.

He submitted three sets of nomination papers. Speaking on the occasion, Radhakrishna said he would strive to develop Vijayawada with the support of the State and Central governments.

He thanked Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan and BJP State president PVN Madhav for giving him an opportunity to contest for the Mayor’s post.

Rayana Bhagya Lakshmi filed her nomination in the presence of MLC Ruhullah, former MP Alla Ayodhya Rami Reddy, former MLAs Malladi Vishnu and Velampalli Srinivas, and other YSRCP leaders.

She said Vijayawada had received several national and State-level awards during her five-year tenure as Mayor and asserted that the party had a record of development to present before voters.

Retired IPS officer AB Venkateswara Rao entered mayoral contest as an independent candidate with the support of CPI, CPM, and Congress backing.

He reached Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) headquarters in a rally along with Left and Congress leaders, including CPM State secretary V Srinivasa Rao, APCC vice-president Kolanukonda Shivaji, CPI City Secretary G Koteswara Rao, former Minister Vadde Sobhandriswara Rao and others, before filing his nomination.

Addressing the gathering, Venkateswara Rao alleged that corruption and bribery had become major concerns for residents, particularly small vendors, and criticised the condition of the Bandar canal and the city’s sanitation.

He also questioned whether a Mayor from the ruling party would be able to hold the government accountable over civic issues and the use of municipal funds.

In Machilipatnam, TDP and YSRCP candidates also filed nominations for the Mayor’s post. TDP candidate Abdul Hameeda submitted her papers after taking out a rally accompanied by Minister Kollu Ravindra.

Candidates also filed nominations for chairperson and ward member posts in Jaggayyapeta, Nandigama and Tiruvuru municipalities. The final day saw TDP-led NDA and YSRCP candidates organise rallies in these towns as well.

Several aspirants submitted papers for municipal chairperson and ward member posts in Vuyyuru

and Pedana.

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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