NDA finalises seat-sharing for GVMC polls, TDP gets 77 wards, JSP 32 and BJP 11

After days of deliberations and meetings among the three parties, the NDA alliance on Wednesday finalised its seat-sharing arrangement for the 120 wards in the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) elections,. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) secured the maximum share of 77 wards, followed by the Jana Sena Party (JSP) 32 wards and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 11 wards.

Following the announcement, MLAs from the TDP, JSP and BJP began distributing B-forms to officially recognise the candidates contesting on behalf of the alliance.

Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat handed over the B-form to NDA mayoral candidate Mukka Sravani, formalising her candidature.

The finalisation of the candidates has triggered resentment among several sitting corporators and aspirants who had been hoping to secure party tickets. Senior leaders have been holding discussions with the disgruntled leaders and urging them to withdraw their nominations in the larger interest of the alliance. While some have agreed to step aside, several others are understood to be preparing to contest as Independents.

South constituency MLA Ch. Vamsikrishna Srinivas personally visited the residences of several JSP leaders and appealed to them to withdraw their nominations in accordance with the alliance's seat-sharing arrangement.

Several prominent corporators and senior leaders were reportedly denied B-forms on Wednesday. Former corporator PLVN Murthy, popularly known as Murthy Yadav, who filed his nomination from Ward 26, was among those who had not received official authorisation, according to party sources.

In the Gajuwaka, several former TDP corporators and senior leaders, including Kaki Govinda Reddy and Lella Koteswara Rao, were also reportedly left out of the final list of authorised candidates. Former TDP corporator Pasarla Venkata Prasad, who represented Ward 120 in Adavivaram, is contesting as an Independent after failing to secure the party's official backing.

Several sitting corporators and senior leaders from the Gajuwaka zone are understood to have held a meeting and decided to contest as Independents, party sources said.

Campaigning gathers pace

With the candidate lists finalised, candidates from the TDP, JSP, BJP and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) have intensified their campaigns, conducting door-to-door visits and interacting with residents in their respective wards. Several candidates held meetings with residents of colonies and local communities to explain their priorities and seek support. Many neighbourhoods are witnessing an election atmosphere, as candidates along with their supporters intensifying their efforts to reach voters.

NDA mayoral candidate Mukka Sravani toured various Assembly constituencies, meeting residents, representatives of different communities and party cadres to consolidate support for the alliance and mobilise workers on the ground ahead of the municipal elections.

YSRCP mayoral candidate Varudu Kalyani also stepped up her campaign, and held a series of meetings across Assembly constituencies and interacting with residents and party cadres. She has been focusing on strengthening the party's local-level campaign and building support for her candidature.

Meanwhile, Sunanda Devi, representing the Yadava community, received the Congress party's B-form and will contest the mayoral election as the party's candidate.