AP election results to shape future administrative center
While YSRCP promised to stick to its 3-capital plan and convert Vizag as executive capital after the elections, the TDP-led alliance has declared the development of Amaravati as the single capital
image for illustrative purpose
Visakhapatnam: The die is cast for conducting free and fair elections for 175 State Legislative Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats with an estimated 4.11 crore voters enrolled to exercise their franchise in the May 13 elections in Andhra Pradesh. The voters will decide the fate of 454 candidates for the Lower House and 2,387 nominees for Assembly seats.
Elaborate arrangements have been made to make the elections being held in a single phase incident-free by the Election Commission of India (ECI) after making repeated appeals to voters to cast their franchise and holding ‘Let’s Vote’ awareness campaigns in association with various civil society groups and organisations. Greyhounds and paramilitary forces have been deployed with special arrangement in Maoist-hit areas of Parvathipuram and Alluri Sitarama Raju and other districts and areas identified as hyper-sensitive and law and order-vulnerable localities.
The State is witnessing a triangular fight with the main battle between the YSRCP led by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and NDA alliance comprising TDP, BJP and Jana Sena Party with the projection of N Chandrababu Naidu as its Chief Ministerial face.
The Congress party, which drew a blank in the 2014 and 2019 elections is now sweating it out to win a few seats under the leadership of YS Sharmila, sister of Jagan Mohan Reddy. While BJP has fielded its State president D Purandeswari, daughter of late NTR from Rajamahendravaram LS seat, JSP founder-actor Pawan Kalyan is trying his luck to enter the Assembly from Pithapuram in Kakinada district.
While YSRCP promised to stick to its three-capital plan and convert Visakhapatnam as executive capital after the elections, the TDP-led alliance has declared the development of Amaravati as the single capital. The controversial claims over AP Land Titling Act dominated the campaigns by the main contenders to power.
Chief Electoral Officer Mukesh Kumar Meena said elections will be held from 7 am to 6 pm with exemption in Araku, Rampachodavaram and other agency and sensitive areas restricted up to 5 pm. He said voting will be allowed as long as all those who turn up at the polling booths complete exercising their franchise. Special arrangement has been made in Kotia Group of Villages in Andhra-Odisha Border, where AP has dispute over jurisdiction with its neighbour. A large contingent of 1.14 police officials and 5.26 lakh polling personnel have been deployed on election duty with flying squads put on surveillance to ensure peaceful polling. On the eve of elections, raids were conducted at several places to seize unaccounted cash and liquor meant for distribution to influence voters.
In Parvathipuram and ASR districts in undivided Visakhapatnam district, known as strongholds of Left Wing Extremists (LWE) and interior areas due to hilly terrains, two helicopters and 10 drones were deployed for surveillance. Helicopters were used to carry men and material to reach some inaccessible areas. Sniffer dogs were also put on vigil to scan the areas’ culverts and bridges for suspicious objects.
Incidentally, the highest number of 46 candidates are in fray for the post of MLA from Tirupati and 33 for MP nomination from Visakhapatnam. Lowest number of 12 candidates are there for Lok Sabha from Rajamahendravaram and six for Assembly membership from Chodavaram in undivided Visakhapatnam district. For the first time, a few candidates have declared their own manifesto for constituency development.
