4 days ago
All Set for GVMC standing committee elections on August 6 in Visakhapatnam
The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has made elaborate arrangements for the standing committee elections, which are scheduled to be held on August 6 (Wednesday). With just hours remaining for polling, both the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and the NDA alliance are holding last-minute strategy sessions to prevent cross-voting and secure a majority for their candidates.
GVMC Additional Commissioners D.V. Ramana Murthy and S.S. Varma on Tuesday conducted a sensitisation session for all party corporators at the GVMC Main Office, in the presence of floor leaders. The session focused on the election process for selecting the 10-member standing committee. GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg has directed that the election be conducted transparently, with no scope for untoward incidents. Voting will take place between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the GVMC Conference Hall. Corporators must present valid photo ID to obtain voter slips. Due to disruptions during previous elections, items such as pens, digital watches, mobile phones, and electronic devices are strictly prohibited inside the polling area.
Each corporator is required to cast exactly 10 votes, and any ballot with more than 10 votes will be deemed invalid. Contesting candidates must report at 9:45 a.m. for sealing of ballot boxes and return at 2:05 p.m. for the final sealing. Counting will be conducted in the candidates' presence, followed by the announcement of results.
The run-up to the election saw political turbulence. CPI(M) Corporator B. Ganga Rao (Ward 78) declared he would boycott the election, accusing both YSRCP and NDA of fostering corruption. Jana Sena Party (JSP) Corporator P.L.V.N. Murthy (Ward 22) also announced a boycott, alleging that the TDP had failed to honour the NDA's seat-sharing arrangement, which reportedly allocated six seats to the TDP, three to the JSP, and one to the BJP. No JSP candidates filed nominations, and one YSRCP-turned-JSP supporter who had filed withdrew later.
As a result, the contest will see 10 YSRCP candidates pitted against nine TDP corporators and one BJP corporator from the NDA.
