Civic Polls: Aspirants Waiting for Party Seat Allotments
Aspirants await alliance partners’ decisions on municipal corporation seats in Kakinada, Rajamahendravaram and Eluru after reservation categories were finalized.
With the reservation categories now finalized, seat aspirants are eagerly waiting to see which alliance partner is allocated the Rajamahendravaram, Kakinada and Eluru municipal corporation seats.
Following indications that the Kakinada seat would likely go to the Jana Sena, some members of the Telugu Desam attempted to switch sides to JS. However, as the final word on allocation of corporations among the alliance partners remains unclear, all seat aspirants are currently in a state of suspense.
KMC has been reserved for BC women, Rajamahendravaram for SC (General) and Eluru for BC (General). However, the final word on allocation of corporations among the alliance partners is still awaited. Seat aspirants are currently in a state of suspense. KMC has been reserved for BC women. There is a strong demand from party leaders and grassroots workers for allocation of the Eluru seat to the Jana Sena. Given Pawan Kalyan’s significant influence in Kakinada, Jana Sena candidates are optimistic about securing that seat.
Although there was talk that none of the parties had suitable candidates for these specific reservation categories, many aspirants are now coming forward. Speculations are that if the TD gets the Kakinada seat, it might go to party leader Vanamadi Susmitha, the daughter-in-law of the present MLA Vanamadi Kondababu’s brother Satyanarayana.
If Jana Sena secures it, the ticket could go to Lakshmi, the wife of Super Bazaar chairman Pesangi Adinarayana. Susmitha has recently caught the party leadership's attention by distinguishing herself as an effective orator.
Pesangi Adinarayana has remained a loyal associate of Pawan Kalyan since the days of the Praja Rajyam Party. It is felt that Lakshmi stands a chance of securing the seat because Pawan Kalyan emphasizes on recognizing hard work. However, while Lakshmi commands a significant vote bank, she belongs to the fishing community, whereas the Shetty Balija community is seeking the ticket for Kadali Eswari on behalf of the Jana Sena.
Meanwhile, the name of Pasupuleti Venkatalakshmi is being heard as a potential candidate from the YSRC.
Regarding Rajamahendravaram, Dr P Vijaya Bhaskar is aspiring for the ticket from the Telugu Desam Party, while former soldier Dasi Venkatrao is seeking it from the YSRC. Other aspirants are engaging in discreet consultations with the party leadership.
Yerra Venugopala Rayudu, Anushree Satyanarayana, and others who vied for the Rajamahendravaram corporation seat faced disappointment as the seat is assigned to SC-woman category.
Former Kakinada corporator Dusharlapudi Ramana Raju felt it would have been better if the Kakinada seat had been reserved for the SC category, noting that the position had previously been held by BC women, BC general candidates, and OC general and OC women candidates.
