Heat forces followers quit leaders

Vijaywada: With no one willing to follow the leader, candidates contesting municipal polls are facing a peculiar situation.

Despite being ready to pay anything between '300 and '500 per person per day, and meals twice a day, the candidates are unable to find “supporters” to follow them around when they go house-to-house, especially in the afternoon.

The reluctance of the “supporters” is understandable, as temperatures have already crossed 37 degree Celsius in the city.

For candidates, the sun is the last thing on their minds, as they have just about a week to meet voters. However, the “supporters” are not that convinced and certainly not in a mood to follow their “leaders” around, especially up the hills surrounding Vijayawada city.

TD candidate for Division No. 3 Narra Subba Rao said, “The candidates are forced to request their supporters to follow them, otherwise the campaign looks dull.”

Recently, K. Esu, TD candidate for Division No. 15 fell ill while campaigning in the hot sun. Meanwhile, the families of candidates are helping them, but limiting themselves to the plains.