Tirupati Mayor’s Post Triggers Competition Within NDA
Telugu Desam, Jana Sena and possibly the BJP are competing for the Tirupati mayor’s post as NDA partners negotiate municipal seat-sharing arrangements across Andhra Pradesh.
The Tirupati mayor’s post is emerging as a major issue within the NDA coalition partners. Telugu Desam and Jana Sena leaders are seeking the post, while there is possibility of BJP too staking a claim.
The post being in the general category has intensified competition. Several established political figures and their family members have entered the race. Aspirants within the NDA are lobbying within their parties as seat sharing talks continue.
In TD, B.V. Keerthi, granddaughter of former MLA M. Suguna, and senior leaders Mabbu Devanarayana Reddy and Koduru Balasubramanyam are among the contenders. G. Narasimha Yadav is reportedly seeking the post for a family member, while former deputy mayor R.C. Munikrishna is also in the race.
Political observer P. Ravi Kumar said the number of aspirants could make candidate selection difficult for the TD leadership, which will have to weigh competing claims. “The choice will also be watched by other NDA partners as they negotiate their share of municipal positions," he said.
Jana Sena's constituency in-charge Kiran Rayal is seeking the mayor’s post for himself or his wife. T. Venkateswarulu, correspondent of GATE educational institutions, is another aspirant. The party’s prospects will depend partly on the share of civic positions it secures in the alliance arrangement.
Speculation that the BJP could seek the mayor’s post has added to the uncertainty. If the party presses its claim, family members of TTD board member G. Bhanu Prakash Reddy or BJP district president Samanchi Srinivas could be considered. However, no decision to allot the post to the BJP has been confirmed.
“For NDA, the Tirupati mayor’s post is an important test of how the three partners manage their local ambitions. Giving the position to one party could leave aspirants in the others looking for opportunities elsewhere in the municipal contest," Ravi Kumar said.
Competition for municipal posts is also picking up in other towns. In Srikalahasti, where elections are being held after a decade, the chairperson’s post has been reserved for the BC general category. TD aspirants include Durga Prasad, a Rajaka community leader and associate of MLA Bojjala Sudheer Reddy, and senior leader Dasaratha Achari. The choices of Jana Sena and the BJP will depend on the alliance arrangement.
In Chittoor district, the municipal corporation mayor’s post has been reserved for the BC general category, against SC general in the previous election. Nagari, earlier reserved for BC general, is now unreserved. Palamaner has been allotted to a general category woman.
In Annamayya district, chairperson’s posts in Rayachoti, Madanapalle, and B. Kothakota have been reserved for the BC general category. Punganur has been reserved for a BC woman.
