TD Secures Vizag Mayoral Post After 33 Years

Visakhapatnam: Pila Srinivas Rao was unanimously elected as the Mayor of Visakhapatnam on Monday, marking the Telugu Desam’s (TD) return to the post after a 33-year hiatus. The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) Mayoral election was conducted peacefully at the GVMC headquarters.

The election process involved 111 votes, including representatives from 97 wards and 14 ex-officio members. With one ward vacant and the YSRC boycotting the election, the quorum was met with over 56 votes supporting Pila Srinivas Rao’s candidacy. Jana Sena MLA Vamsi Krishna Yadav proposed Rao’s name, while BJP MLA Vishnu Kumar Raju offered his support, ensuring a smooth and unanimous election.

Pila Srinivas Rao’s journey to the mayoral post has been marked by perseverance and dedication. Despite running as the TD candidate in the 2021 GVMC elections, he fell short due to a lack of majority. Over the past four years, he has worked tirelessly to strengthen the party and campaign against the YSRC, earning the trust of TD leadership and securing his nomination once again.

The election process was swift, concluding in just ten minutes. Following his victory, Rao was congratulated by corporators, party leaders, and supporters, who celebrated with firecrackers outside the GVMC office.

Reflecting on the legacy of D. V. Subba Rao, the last TD Mayor of Visakhapatnam from 1987 to 1992, Pila Srinivas Rao expressed his commitment to meeting the expectations of the city’s residents. “As the city's first citizen, I am determined to fulfil the expectations of the people of Visakhapatnam; otherwise, my life would be meaningless,” he stated.