VMC mayor post unreserved for 7th time
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Machilipatnam mayor post reserved for BC women
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VMC mayor post unreserved for 7th time
Vijayawada: The prestigious and politically significant Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) mayor post has once again been allotted to the unreserved category, marking the seventh time the post has been kept open to the general category, including general women. The decision has intensified political activity ahead of the upcoming municipal elections, with several aspirants seeking the coveted post. The Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Department has finalised reservations for the mayor posts in all 17 municipal corporations and chairperson posts in all 106 municipalities in the State.
While Vijayawada has been allotted the unreserved category, the Machilipatnam Municipal Corporation (MMC) mayor post has been reserved for BC women. Recently, the State government increased the number of divisions in the VMC from 64 to 86 and in the MMC from 50 to 60 as part of the expansion of the two civic bodies. The number of wards has also been increased in municipalities across the State. The unreserved status of the VMC mayor post has triggered intense lobbying within the ruling NDA and the YSRCP. More than a dozen aspirants are reportedly in the race for the mayor’s post, with several leaders visiting their respective party headquarters to press their claims.
The Jana Sena Party (JSP) is understood to be seeking the mayor posts in both Vijayawada and Machilipatnam. However, the final decision on sharing the two posts is expected after discussions among the leaders of the three NDA partners. TDP leaders, meanwhile, are keen to retain the Vijayawada mayor post for their party. The final allocation will depend on the alliance leadership’s decision and the seat-sharing arrangements agreed upon by the partners. The unreserved status has widened the field of potential contenders, intensifying competition among aspirants.
Vijayawada was upgraded to a municipal corporation in 1981, and the mayor was elected through an indirect election under the general category. Direct elections for the mayor’s post were subsequently held in 1987 and 1995, with the post allotted to the general category on both occasions. In 2000, the mayor post was reserved for BC women, and the election was held directly. Subsequently, the post was allotted to general woman in 2005, the general category in 2014 and general woman in 2021.
Elections held from 2005 to 2021 followed the indirect election system for choosing the mayor. With the latest allocation to the unreserved category, eligible candidates can contest for the post without a caste-based reservation restriction, subject to the applicable election rules.
In the expanded VMC, comprising 86 divisions, two divisions have been reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST), including one for woman; 10 for Scheduled Castes (SC), including five for women; 31 for Backward Classes (BC), including 16 for women; and 43 for the general category, including 22 for women and 21 unreserved divisions.
In the Machilipatnam Municipal Corporation, which has 60 divisions, one division has been allotted to ST, five to SC, including two for women, and 24 to BC, including 12 for women.
