Amaravati or Vizag: Where new AP CM will swear in?

TDP leader and former Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao made it very clear that they are committed to continue Amaravati as the single capital. YSRCP’s Botsa Satyanarayana said they have already blocked rooms in some star hotels in Visakhapatnam as their victory is a foregone conclusion

Visakhapatnam: Official machinery in Andhra Pradesh has kept its fingers crossed on where to hold the swearing in ceremony as there is no clarity on whether it is in Visakhapatnam or Amaravati as both the main contenders for power in the State have different preferences.

However, both of them want to swear in on June 9 after counting is announced on June 4. While Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said he will take the oath in Visakhapatnam, TDP leader and former Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao made it very clear that they are committed to continue Amaravati as the single capital. YSRCP’s Botcha Satyanarayana said they have already blocked rooms in some star hotels in Visakhapatnam as their victory is a foregone conclusion. TDP and its allies BJP and Jana Sena want the oath-taking ceremony in Amaravati as they are against trifurcation of capital as envisaged by the YSRCP. The official machinery will begin arrangements after everything gets cleared on who will form the next government.

Incidentally, YSRCP leaders held consultations on the venue with many suggesting Kalavani Stadium or Andhra University Engineering College Grounds. The political activity after a lull picked up with the return of Naidu and Jagan Mohan Reddy from their overseas trips.

Commenting on the exit poll results, YSRCP general secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy on Sunday rubbished the claims by various firms saying they are confident of a landslide victory on June 4. He said the exit polls seem to have been staged-managed from Delhi to vitiate the atmosphere before the counting. He asked the party cadres to remain on high alert on any attempt to manipulate on the counting day.

Reddy said the people are in favour of continuation of good work done by the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government because of its focus on welfare. He said during 2019 also the exit polls were proved wrong. He also charged the Election Commission of India (ECI) of acting in a partisan manner by responding to 'false' complaints lodged by the TDP.

Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Officer Mukesh Kumar Meena directed the district election officials to make elaborate and fool-proof arrangements for counting of votes as per guidelines issued by ECI. Plans have been drawn to complete counting in 20 rounds in 111 Assembly segments, 21 rounds in 61 and 21 to 24 rounds in the remaining three constituencies. More tables are arranged for counting of postal ballots. Efforts are on to complete counting in 111 constituencies by 2 pm and 61 by 4 pm. Final results of all constituencies will be available between 8 pm to 9 pm.