MLC elections: Political heat rises in north Andhra with issue of notification

VISAKHAPATNAM: The political climate in North Andhra has begun to heat up following the release of notification for the Graduates MLC polls.
The main contest is likely to be among the four major political parties’ candidates including the sitting MLC PVN Madhav of BJP, Sitamraju Sudhakar of YSRCP, Dr T Chiranjeevi Rao of TDP and Dr Koredla Ramaprabha from People’s Democratic Front (PDF).Other candidates have also started campaigning, including social worker Samayam Hemant Kumar, with support of former IPS officer JD Lakshminarayana. For the first time, a total of 2.82 lakh graduates registered their names as voters in the constituency. The voters’ numbered 1.70 lakh in 2017 elections but 69.7 % of polling had taken place. The term of the sitting MLC PVN Madhav of BJP would come to an end on March 29.
Around 338 polling stations would be arranged. The highest polling stations, 94, are in Visakhapatnam, 64 in Vizianagaram, 44 in Anakapalli and 24 in Parvathipuram Manyam and 14 in ASR district.
Around 568 polling boxes would be used in the elections, including 207 in Visakhapatnam, 116 in Vizianagaram, 103 in Srikakulam, 82 in Anakapalli district, 37 in Parvathipuram Manyam and 23 in ASR district. Another 113 ballot boxes have been kept as reserve.
The ruling YSRCP had already announced the state Brahmin Corporation vhairman Sitamraju Sudhakar as its candidate five months ago whereas the TDP changed its candidate four days ago. Filing of nominations will start on February 16 and polling will take place on March 13 from 8 am to 4 pm. Votes will be counted on March 16.