Political heirs or fresh face? TDP in dilemma over Mayor pick

Visakhapatnam: It is battle time. Will the TDP leadership favour an educated woman from an established political family or will it surprise the party ranks by selecting a new candidate?

The answer is expected to emerge soon as the nomination deadline approaches and the alliance moves closer to finalising its candidate.

The race for the Visakhapatnam Mayoral post is gathering pace, with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) emerging as the likely choice to nominate a candidate on behalf of the alliance for the coveted post.

With Visakhapatnam assuming greater importance as a hub for information technology, data infrastructure, tourism, industry and finance, selecting the city’s next first citizen has become a crucial political decision for the alliance leadership.

According to party sources, the TDP is inclined to field its own candidate because the party firmly believes that having a Mayor from the ruling party could facilitate coordination with the state government and help expedite decisions concerning the city’s development.

Although both the Jana Sena Party (JSP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are keenly interested in fielding their respective candidates, they are not strongly claiming their candidates for the post because they received assurances for a larger seat share for the polls.

So far, three names have been heard. With the mayoral post reserved for a woman in the general category, the TDP leadership has considerable flexibility in choosing its nominee. Party leaders are examining educational qualifications, political experience, public standing and the ability to represent a rapidly developing city like Visakhapatnam.

A section of the party believes that an educated woman with a professional background would be suitable for the position, particularly as Visakhapatnam continues to expand its precincts in terms of technology, tourism, industrial and financial sectors.

The list of potential candidates being discussed includes Lavanya, wife of TDP state president and Gajuwaka MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao. She works as an Assistant Professor at Andhra University and her professional background adds an edge to the mayoral selection.

Also, the daughter of TDP Visakhapatnam Parliamentary president Chodey Venkata Pattabhiram is another name reportedly being proposed for consideration. Her family is reportedly seeking an opportunity for her in the mayoral race.

Former Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) chairperson Akkaramani Vijaya Nirmala is another aspirant for the Mayoral post. According to sources, her husband, Venkata Rao, recently met District In-charge Minister Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy during his visit to Visakhapatnam and requested that her name be considered for the post.

Will the TDP leadership opt for a candidate from an established political family or an entirely new candidate? The answer is expected to emerge soon as the nomination deadline approaches and the alliance moves closer to finalising its candidate.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rani Devalla

[email protected]

Rani Devalla is an experienced journalist specialised in a range of beats. From crime to politics, health to human interest, education to defence along with entertainment and feature stories, Rani Devalla, an accomplished writer with a passion for exploring diverse genres, has been reporting for the past 14 years. Serving as Bureau Chief of The Hans India in Visakhapatnam, Rani Devalla contributes to the organisation's editorial department through daily reporting, special stories and feature stories. After completing B.Com, Rani Devalla pursued Masters in Human Resource Management. Prior to joining The Hans India, Rani Devalla worked as a Principal Correspondent with The Hindu Group for six-and-a-half years. With rich expertise, she brings diverse perspectives to her reporting that makes her narratives stand out. When not immersed in writing, the journalist spends time reading, travelling and journaling.

Read More