Political parties in the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation elections have stepped up campaign activities despite cyclonic conditions. Candidates from TD, YSRC, Jana Sena, and Congress are conducting door-to-door outreach. Rebel candidates in Ward 23 added intensity to the battle, as leaders push for victory across all 120 city wards today.
Visakhapatnam: Even as cyclonic conditions prevail along the coast, political parties and candidates in the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation elections have stepped up their campaign activities, treating the civic polls as a prestige battle.
Leaders and candidates from the TD, YSRC, Jana Sena and Congress along with independents have continued door-to-door canvassing and public outreach programmes despite adverse weather conditions.
The election contest has become particularly intense in fishing localities such as Pedda Jalaripeta, now designated as Ward 23, where rebel politics has added a new dimension to the campaign.
Traditionally considered a TD stronghold, the ward is witnessing a multi-cornered battle. YSRC candidate Kari Sri Lakshmi reportedly has the support of TD rebel Teddu Raju, a former associate of MLA Velagapudi Ramakrishna, who later joined the YSRC. The official TD nominee is Potti Manga, whose husband is reportedly close to the MLA. Another TD rebel, Vali Setti Gurnadh, has thrown his weight behind his wife Vali Setti Venu, contesting on a Congress ticket.
Political observers say rebel candidates emerging across several wards have injected fresh momentum into the campaign and kept the electoral atmosphere charged despite the cyclone threat.
The city's MLAs are holding regular meetings with grassroots-level party workers, urging them to secure a resounding victory for TD mayoral candidate Mukka Sravani and alliance candidates across all 120 wards. They are pitching comprehensive development of Visakhapatnam as a key campaign plank, while their successors visit wards and campaign on the ground.
Meanwhile, Visakhapatnam MP, M Sribharat, is running an extensive social media campaign. Home minister Vangalapudi Anita, who had been actively involved in the GVMC election campaign until recently, spent Tuesday inspecting control rooms and rehabilitation centres.
In the city, former Visakhapatnam South MLA Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar and state Christian Minority Cell president Bolavarapu John Wesley campaigned extensively for YSRC candidates, including mayoral nominee Varudu Kalyani and Ward 40 candidate Bora Vijaya Lakshmi.
The leaders toured several localities, including SC Colony, Venkateswara Metta and Kummari Veedhi, seeking votes for the party.
MLC and YSRC mayoral candidate Varudu Kalyani also launched an extensive campaign from Jagadamba Junction, covering multiple wards in the city under the coordination of Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar. In the evening, she met with the Visakhapatnam district court bar association and asked lawyers to support the YSRC.
Encouraged by national-level campaigns and protests led by Rahul Gandhi on electoral issues, including SIR protests, the Congress has intensified its efforts in the city. Jana Sena leaders, including MLA Vamsi Krishna Yadav, have remained active in the field despite inclement weather.
Independent candidates such as Peetla Murthy Yadav, who failed to secure a Jana Sena nomination, have also mounted aggressive campaigns.
The CITU has continued its campaign despite the storm threat, urging voters to elect CPIM and CPI candidates fighting for labour rights.
Political analysts note that the relentless canvassing has kept the GVMC poll battle as intense as ever, with the cyclone threat doing little to slow the race for votes.