Two groups in TDP vying for Mayor post

Chittoor: On the instructions of the Chief Minister, the Director of Municipal Administration has wrote a letter to the Election Commission
of India requesting to conduct election for city Mayor post which is lying vacant for the last six months as Mayor K Anuradha and her
husband Mohan were murdered on November 17, 2015.

The TDP has absolute majority in Chittoor Municipal Corporation with 36 corporators from the total of 50. The Mayor post is reserved for
BC women. Deceased Anuradha was elected unanimously as Mayor and R Subramanyam as Deputy Mayor.

It is learnt that majority TDP corporators are willing to support the candidature of Hemalatha, daughter-in-law of K Anuradha, for post of
the Mayor.

However, some party leaders are against hereditary politics. At present, Deputy Mayor is continuing as in-charge Mayor for the last six
months. As per guidelines, the EC has to conduct election to Mayor post either in June or July this year.

Two groups within TDP are reportedly eying for Mayor post. Chittoor MLA DK Satyaprabha wants to field her candidate to Mayor post but
senior TDP leaders like B N Rajasimhulu, Venkateswara Chowdary and Surendra are against MLA’s candidature. Meanwhile, TDP
corporators Vijaya, Bindu and some others have intensified lobbying with senior TDP leaders for Mayor post.

The TDP district unit has decided to abide by the decision of Chief Minister and want to support the candidate finalised by Chandrababu
Naidu. Eighteen women corporators are BCs from the total of 25. In which, 14 of them belong to TDP. The election to Mayor post will
become unanimous if MLA DK Satyaprabha agrees for it.