Graduate voters’ enrollment expedited

- As many as 31,000 graduates submit applications by Oct 31
- TDP likely to offer MLC seat to its ally BJP so as to contest for Mayor’s seat
- TDP has not yet announced the name of its candidate

Visakhapatnam: Political parties, including TDP, BJP, CPM and Congress, expedited the graduate voters’ enrollment for the ensuing North Andhra graduates constituency elections by collecting applications, along with all requisites promising attestation of graduation certificate on their own, as the last date for receipt of applications (November 5) is drawing near.

The applications are also being received at the Collectorate, mandal tahsil and MPDO offices too. According to official sources, a total of 31,011 applications have been received by October 31 of which 12,792 online and it was being expected that the total number of applications may touch 60,000. Following the pleas by all the political parties seeking extension of the last date, it is learnt that the State Election Commission has written to the Central Election Commission. In the last elections held in 2011, 1.60 lakh graduates had registered their names, this time there is a luke warm response from the graduates because of lengthy process in submission of applications.

While the Progressive Democratic Front has announced the name of Aja Sarma as its candidate, Congress has named Yedla Adiraju of Vizianagaram district long ago, while the ruling TDP has not yet announced the name of its candidate and Cheruvu Ramakotaiah was one among those seeking the MLC seat from BJP. Though the TDP MLAs were exerting pressure on the party leaders and activists to collect as many applications as possible, they are not showing interest to bear the attestation charges as the party has not announced the candidate.

The Ministers, MLAs and senior party leaders have already discussed the strategy of the MLC election and registration process, but they have left the selection choice to the party National President. Sources said that the TDP is likely to offer the seat to its political ally BJP so as to contest the Mayor post in the ensuing municipal elections. Even if they do not belong to the TDP, aspirants seeking seat include Chairman of Alwardas Group of Educational Institutions Sunkara Ravindra, Chairman of Nalanda Educational Institutions Kishore and Chairman of Tandra Paparayudu Educational Institutions T Bhaskara Rao.

In the 2007 North Andhra Graduates Constituency elections, it was polled a total of about 80,000 votes of which independent candidate of Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) M V S Sarma had defeated his nearest rival Prof Dharmana Surannaidu, brother of Dharmana Prasada Rao, with a margin of about 40,000 votes and was in power for four years. Again in the 2011 elections, of the total 70,000 votes polled, independent candidate (PDF) M V S Sarma was elected for the second consecutive term for a six-year term defeating his nearest rival T Bhaskara Rao with a margin of 12,000 votes in which 16 candidates were in the fray.

When contacted, M V S Sarma told The Hans India here on Wednesday this time Aja Sarma will be contesting the election as an independent on behalf of PDF and was being supported by 216 different associations of north Andhra. “My tenure will be completing by March 29, 2017 and the new incumbent will take over as MLC on March 30. Especially, the election to the graduates constituency should be held apolitical as association leaders with vast experience could only raise the issues or problems of employees,” he informed.

V V L N Rao