Andhra Pradesh: YSRC, TDP set their sights on battlegrounds Nellore, Kuppam

AMARAVATI: The State Election Commission (SEC) is gearing up to conduct elections to Nellore Municipal Corporation (NMC) and 12 small towns in the state.
Elections to these civic bodies were not held along with other municipalities in April due to pending court cases. After getting clearances from the courts, the SEC has directed the district collectors of Nellore, Guntur, West Godavari, Krishna, Chittoor, Kurnool, Kadapa and Anantapur to release draft notifications of the polling centres.
The SEC has also directed collectors to appoint returning officers to all wards in the respective civic bodies immediately.Sources said the SEC plans to conduct elections in the remaining municipal towns and cities in the last week of October. The SEC will also conduct by-elections in 20 municipal divisions and wards, which fell vacant following the death of elected members.
Elections to Kuppam municipality, the home town of TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu, will also be held along with other towns in the last week. Elections in Kuppam and Nellore city are expected to be a matter of prestige for YSRC and TDP.
Although YSRC won over 98% of the municipalities that went for polls in April, TDP is leaving no stone unturned to regain its lost ground in the coming elections. YSRC won almost all village panchayats and MPPs in Kuppam assembly constituency with a resounding majority and is looking to further expand its grip over the constituency by winning Kuppam municipality.
Chandrababu Naidu has decided to prove his strength by winning the municipal town. TDP had conceded a majority of over 60,000 votes to YSRC in the panchayat and MPTC elections. Naidu, who won the assembly election with a majority of over 30,000, is determined to energise party cadre by visiting the constituency next week.
Meanwhile, winning Nellore Municipal Corporation (NMC) has become a big test for city legislator and irrigation minister Dr P Anil Kumar Yadav. Both Anil Yadav and Nellore Rural assembly constituency legislator Sridhar Reddy are working overtime to ensure the party’s victory in the municipal elections. Interestingly, TDP is also confident of tasting success in Nellore city, thanks to the presence of strong local leaders.
The SEC is gearing up to conduct elections to Nellore Municipal Corporation (NMC) and 12 small towns in the state. Elections to these civic bodies were not held along with other municipalities in April due to pending court cases