Seat-Sharing Disputes Trouble Alliance in Urban Local Body Polls

TIRUPATI: Seat-sharing disputes and rebel candidates have emerged as challenges for the ruling alliance in the urban local body elections, with Telugu Desam, Jana Sena and BJP candidates contesting against each other in wards across Tirupati, Nagari, Chittoor and Palamaner.

The contests between alliance partners could split votes and benefit the YSRC. Although the three parties reached an understanding on mayoral and municipal chairperson posts, they failed to resolve differences over ward allocations in some constituencies. Political observers said early discussions among party leaders and local MLAs could have helped prevent the disputes.

In Tirupati Municipal Corporation, the BJP was allotted divisions 21, 26, 44, 52 and 62. BJP district president Samanachi Srinivas is contesting from Division 21, while city president Varaprasad is in the fray from Division 26. However, TD rebel Doddareddy Ramakrishna Reddy is challenging Srinivas, while former Jana Sena corporator Ponnala Chandra is contesting against Varaprasad.

BJP candidates reportedly persuaded Jana Sena rebels to withdraw from the other three divisions allotted to the party.

Disputes have also emerged in divisions allotted to the TD. In Division 47, former deputy mayor RC Munikrishna and Jana Sena leader Rajesh Achari received official nomination forms, with the latter receiving one from MLA Arani Srinivasulu. Jana Sena leaders Harikrishna and Gutta Nagaraja Royal are also reportedly contesting as rebels.

Division 23 witnessed confusion after two senior TD leaders sought tickets for their supporters. The party initially issued official nomination forms to both aspirants but later retained only one candidate. In Division 42, TD candidate Ganji Sudhakar Reddy faces challenges from party leader Kankanala Rajinikanth and Jana Sena candidate Mohan.

In Nagari, BJP leaders alleged that MLA Gali Bhanu Prakash had not consulted them adequately on seat-sharing arrangements. With no clarity on ward allocations, they approached senior party leaders and decided to contest five wards.

In Ward 8, BJP and Jana Sena candidates are contesting against each other. In four other wards, BJP and TD candidates are contesting against the YSRC.

In Chittoor municipal corporation, alliance partners are contesting against one another in six of the nine divisions going to polls. Division 32 has candidates from all three parties.

Palamaner has largely avoided such disputes, with the only contest between alliance partners reported in Ward 7, where TD candidate Reddemma faces Jana Sena's Sunitha.

In Kuppam, represented by chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, the TD persuaded its allies to allow it to contest all 32 wards following last-minute negotiations. The agreement has raised questions about why similar coordination was not achieved in Nagari and Chittoor, where alliance candidates are competing against one another.