Candidates intensified their GVMC election campaigns across Visakhapatnam on Sunday. They visited markets, bus stations, and homes to reach voters as polling nears. MP M. Sribharat said, "Improving civic infrastructure, expediting development works and delivering better municipal services would be among its priorities." Parties held rallies to secure support from residents.
From fishing harbours and Rythu Bazaars to weekly markets, bus stations, salons, meat shops and tourist destinations along Beach Road, candidates and their supporters fan out across the city, seeking to maximise their outreach as the election campaign enters its final phase
With just a week left for polling, candidates contesting the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) elections made the most of Sunday to intensify their campaigns. They took advantage of the holiday to reach voters at their homes, workplaces, markets and popular public spaces across the city.
From fishing harbours and Rythu Bazaars to weekly markets, bus stations, salons, meat shops and tourist destinations along Beach Road, candidates and their supporters fanned out across the city, seeking to maximise their outreach as the election campaign entered its final phase.
Sunday witnessed an increase in door-to-door campaigns, rallies, roadshows and public meetings, with Mayoral candidates and corporator aspirants trying to reach as many voters as possible. Candidates were seen interacting with people at chicken and mutton shops, fish markets and other commercial establishments, explaining their priorities and seeking support.
Autorickshaws fitted with public-address systems moved through residential colonies throughout the day, announcing candidates' names and appealing to residents to vote for them. Drivers engaged for election campaigns were charging around ₹10,000 a day, including food, according to some drivers from Gajuwaka. Large numbers of party workers and supporters also participated in rallies organised across several localities.
The NDA and YSRCP stepped up their campaigning across constituencies, while candidates from other parties and independent aspirants also used the Sunday holiday to reach out to voters.
In Visakha East, Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat, East MLA Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu and NDA Mayoral candidate Mukka Sravani participated in door-to-door campaigns across several wards, along with alliance corporator candidates. A massive rally was organised in Ward 16 in support of TDP candidate Eduvaka Mahalakshmi, from the Arilova police station to the last bus stop.
Mr. Sribharat said that improving civic infrastructure, expediting development works and delivering better municipal services would be among its priorities and urged voters to elect the alliance's Mayoral and corporator candidates with substantial majorities.
Ms. Sravani said the response from voters had been encouraging and reiterated her commitment to comprehensive urban development, improved civic amenities and transparent administration. She later participated in campaign programmes in Gajuwaka with the support of Andhra Pradesh TDP president Palla Srinivasa Rao.
YSRCP Mayoral candidate Varudu Kalyani began her Sunday campaign at the Fishing Harbour, where she interacted with members of the fishing community, enquired about their welfare and sought their votes. Former MLA Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar and corporator candidates from the South Assembly constituency accompanied her. She also participated in meetings with residents in HB Colony, Kancharapalem and Malkapuram before taking part in a roadshow at Pendurthi.
Mr. Ganesh Kumar campaigned for the YSRCP corporator candidates in South Assembly constituency. In a campaign marked by a symbolic demonstration, he carried a dummy rice bag labelled 'CBN Rice Bag' priced at ₹2,300 to draw attention to the prices of essential commodities, including rice.
Meanwhile, the CPI(M) also intensified its campaign in Ward 45, where former MLC M.V.S. Sarma participated in a padayatra in support of party corporator candidate Bhagavatula Lakshminarayana.
Mr. Sarma described Mr. Lakshminarayana as an honest and committed leader who had consistently fought for public causes. Recalling his role in campaigns to protect the District Library site at Dandu Bazaar and to secure the old jail premises for the development of Central Park, he said the candidate had worked to safeguard public assets and ensure their use for the benefit of citizens.