NDA unity faces grassroots test in GVMC polls as ticket discontent persists

Visakhapatnam: The unity of the TDP–Jana Sena–BJP alliance is facing a crucial grassroots test in the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) elections, with disgruntled aspirants and lingering seat-sharing differences threatening to complicate the contest in several wards.Nearly 260 Jana Sena aspirants filed nominations for the 120 wards, seeking tickets under the alliance banner. Although most aspirants who failed to secure official nominations later withdrew their papers, some are learnt to have remained in the fray as independents, potentially splitting the alliance votes in key wards.Effective coordination among the three partners will be crucial if NDA is to replicate its sweeping performance in the 2024 elections. The alliance won all assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies falling within GVMC limits, covering eight assembly segments and parts of two parliamentary constituencies. Visakhapatnam also recorded two of the highest victory margins among Andhra Pradesh’s 175 assembly constituencies, while TDP’s Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha candidate secured a majority of more than five lakh votes, the highest in the state.The three parties had largely worked as a cohesive unit during the 2024 elections, combining their organisational networks and grassroots influence. The civic polls, however, have exposed differences over ward-level representation and ticket distribution.Seat-sharing negotiations dragged on for several days, with an agreement emerging only on the final day of withdrawal of nominations. TDP initially proposed contesting 80 wards, allotting 30 to Jana Sena and 10 to BJP. Jana Sena and BJP leaders sought a larger share, citing their contribution to the alliance.Following negotiations, Jana Sena secured 32 wards and BJP 11, leaving TDP with 77. The allocation has reportedly left sections of both TDP and Jana Sena dissatisfied. Some TDP leaders feel Jana Sena has been allotted more seats than warranted, while some Jana Sena leaders believe the distribution is unfair in certain parts of the city. Visakhapatnam West, Visakhapatnam East and Pendurthi are among the areas where the differences are said to be particularly contentious.The final list of candidates in the fray is yet to be officially released in view of a court order. However, several TDP and Jana Sena aspirants who failed to secure official party nominations are learnt to have retained their candidature. Contesting as independents, they could dent the prospects of official alliance candidates in individual wards.One such candidate is Peethala Murthy Yadav, a Jana Sena corporator who was a vocal critic of the previous YSRCP govt and legally challenged the Rushikonda development project. Having failed to secure a party ticket this time, he is contesting as an independent from Ward 26, making it the ward to watch in the civic polls.Meanwhile, TDP and YSRCP have stepped up their campaigns for the mayoral post. Visakhapatnam MP M Sribharat, campaigning in the Neelamma Vepachettu area on Friday, appealed to voters to deliver a decisive mandate for alliance candidates, including mayoral nominee Mukka Sravani. He said a strong mandate would facilitate the implementation of development projects worth around ₹4,000 crore being taken up in the city.YSRCP mayoral candidate and MLC Varudu Kalyani campaigned in Madhavadhara on Friday, asserting that her party could steer the city’s development while ensuring that public welfare remained a priority.With seat-sharing discontent and rebel candidatures adding to the contest, the GVMC elections will test whether NDA’s success at the state and parliamentary levels can translate into a united electoral front at the ward level.NDA SEAT-SHARING IN GVMC80 wards | Initial TDP proposal30 wards | Initial allocation to Jana Sena10 wards | Initial allocation to BJP32 wards | Final Jana Sena allocation11 wards | Final BJP allocation77 wards | Final TDP allocationKey concern | Dissatisfaction over ticket distribution and independent candidates in some wardsYou Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Vijayawada | Silver Rate in Vijayawada | Bank Holidays in Vijayawada | Public Holidays in Vijayawada | Petrol Price in Vijayawada | Diesel Price in Vijayawada | CNG Price in Vijayawada | LPG Price in VijayawadaStay updated with the latest Vijayawada news. Download the TOI App.