Vijayawada Rural villages clueless over VMC merger

Vijayawada: The lack of clarity from the State government regarding the proposed merger of 16 gram panchayats in the Vijayawada Rural mandal with the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has left villagers and political leaders in a dilemma ahead of the local body elections.

Confusion has intensified as there are proposals to merge all 16 gram panchayats of Vijayawada Rural mandal with the VMC. While some public representatives suggest that the merger is likely, no official confirmation has been provided so far. Several of these villages are located close to Vijayawada city and have developed as extensions of the urban area; however, they continue to function under the rural local body system. Although proposals to bring them under the VMC have been pending for years, the government has yet to announce a final decision.

The uncertainty is particularly significant as preparations for local body elections are ramping up. Panchayat Raj and Rural Development authorities are reportedly working on electoral rolls and other arrangements for rural polls, while political leaders are unsure whether to prepare for elections of the gram panchayats, MPTC, and ZPTC, or to wait for a possible VMC merger. Political aspirants are caught between two electoral systems. Leaders from the TDP, BJP, Jana Sena Party, YSRCP, and Congress are eager to contest sarpanch, MPTC, and ZPTC elections. Additionally, some senior leaders from Vijayawada Rural are eyeing the positions of NTR Zilla Parishad chairman and vice-chairman.

Even leaders from the ruling TDP-led NDA alliance are seeking clarity, with some opposing the proposed merger and advocating for the continuation of the villages under the rural local body system. They argue that maintaining the existing structure would allow local leaders to contest rural elections and hold positions in the Mandal Parishad and Zilla Parishad.

These villages have an unusual administrative and political profile. They fall within the Vijayawada and Machilipatnam Lok Sabha constituencies and come under the Mylavaram and Gannavaram Assembly constituencies, covering areas in NTR and Krishna districts. The VMC’s expansion plans have added to the uncertainty. The VMC has already finalized 86 divisions, up from the previous 64, following government orders. Political circles believe that if the government decides to merge the 16 gram panchayats with the VMC at this stage, the merger could impact the schedule of both urban and rural local body elections. The government is eager to complete the local body election process, particularly since approximately Rs 16,000 crore in Central grants are tied to elected local bodies. However, ongoing court cases and the lack of clarity on certain issues have already delayed the process.

Successive governments have contemplated proposals to expand the VMC into a Greater Vijayawada Municipal Corporation by incorporating surrounding villages. However, these proposals have remained unresolved due to administrative, financial, and civic concerns. The government is focused on finalising local body elections, with Central grants tied to elected local bodies at risk. Political leaders emphasise the need for a clear decision. The key question for the region is whether the villages should remain as separate rural entities or merge with the VMC.

Following district reorganisation, NTR district now comprises 20 mandals, including four urban mandals in Vijayawada and 16 rural mandals. Vijayawada Rural mandal finds itself caught between the city’s rapid expansion and its existing rural administrative status. With political leaders strategising for various electoral scenarios, they are calling for a definitive announcement from the government regarding whether Vijayawada Rural mandal will maintain its current structure or merge with the VMC.

For residents, the question is both simple and significant: Will they elect sarpanches, MPTCs, and ZPTCs as rural voters, or will their villages become part of the VMC and fall under the urban local body election system?.

Until the government makes a final decision, residents and political leaders remain in a unique predicament — living in villages on the outskirts of Vijayawada city while uncertain whether they should prepare for rural or urban elections.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dasari Srinivasa Rao

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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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