BJP Facing Difficulties In Allocating Seats In KMC Elections

In the 2017 municipal corporation elections, the BJP contested from nine of the total 48 divisions in the KMC and won three seats. The number of wards has now increased to 66. Based on its 2017 share, the BJP could expect 12 to 13 seats.

However, Telugu Desam leaders, who have considerable influence in Kakinada, have reportedly indicated that BJP would be allotted only four to five seats. Local TD leaders further want to have a say in candidates the BJP selects to contest the polls.

BJP state general secretary S. Lakshmi Prasanna, who won as a corporator in the 2017 elections, has reportedly been advised by Kakinada TDP MLA Vanamadi Venkateswara Rao, popularly known as Kondababu, to change his ward. BJP candidate Godi Satyavathi won from the 41^st ward in the previous municipal elections, defeating the YSRC candidate by a margin of more than 1,300 votes. Her ward has now been divided into wards 54 and 55.

While several BJP district leaders have supported her candidature citing her and her husband Venkat’s work in the area, others are opposing her nomination.

Some TD and BJP leaders have also opposed allotment of a ticket to former BJP district president and party spokesperson Y. Malakondaiah from the 10^th division. TD leaders say MLA Kondababu wants tickets to be given only to candidates who have a strong chance of winning.

Amid this, BJP state president P.V.N. Madhav has announced that party state leader Relangi Sridevi will be BJP’s candidate for the Rajamahendravaram Municipal Corporation mayor’s post. Following this announcement, some East Godavari district BJP leaders have distributed sweets.