Tussle Within Ruling Alliance Over GVMC Deputy Mayor’s Post
With the post falling vacant, there is intense competition within TD, Jana Sena and BJP corporators to become the next deputy mayor of Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam: While Peela Srinivasa Rao, the 96th ward corporator and Telugu Desam floor leader is poised to be elected as the new mayor of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), the focus has now shifted to the deputy mayor’s post.
Existing deputy mayor Jiyyani Sridhar of YSRC is expected to face a no-confidence motion at a special council meeting on April 26, though sources say Sridhar may choose to resign well before April 26.
With the post falling vacant, there is intense competition within TD, Jana Sena and BJP corporators to become the next deputy mayor of Visakhapatnam.
From TDP, Gandham Srinivasa Rao (76th ward), Bommidi Ramana (90th ward), Molli Hemalatha (5th ward) and Golagani Mangaveni (18th ward) are in the race. JS candidates eyeing the post include Bhisetti Vasanthalakshmi (33rd ward), Peddisetti Ushasri (43rd ward) and Dalli Govinda Reddy (64th ward). BJP’s Gangala Kavitha (48th ward) is also an aspirant.
With the mayor’s post going to Telugu Desam, JS insists that the deputy mayor should belong to Jana Sena. However, TD argues that as the outgoing mayor had been a woman from the Yadava community, the deputy mayor’s post should go to a Yadava community. But JS contends that a Kapu community candidate like Gandham Srinivasa Rao can be the mayor, as the outgoing deputy mayor Sridhar is a Kapu.
At a time, Bhisetti Vasanthalakshmi of Jana Sena had been a favourite. But her chances dimmed due to community considerations. Peddisetti Ushasri, a recent YSRC defector, is lobbying hard for the post. But long-standing coalition members are resisting her candidacy.
Various options are being analysed by the coalition leadership before finalising the new Visakhapatnam deputy mayor candidate.
