Come election time, a number of election enthusiasts file nominations as independents. The filing of nominations itself proves a levelling process with so many parties and independents participating in it. Besides, some parties which are otherwise not known make their presence felt during every election. In fact, after the major mainstream political parties in Andhra Pradesh, the Left parties, Jai Samaikyandhra Party of former Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Lok Satta Party and the fledgling Aam Aadmi Party have presence in several constituencies. But independents comprise a lion’s share of the 178 nominations for the 15 Assembly constituencies in the district.
Several parties not well-known have also fielded nominees making up for the numbers. Though some have significant presence in the other States, their impact here is not much.
BSP that once had an MLA from the district fielded nominees from several constituencies.
Indian Christian Socialist Party and Pyramid Party of India have fielded nominees from several Assembly constituencies including Visakhpatnam Lok Sabha.
Besides, parties with nominal presence in the State like Lok Janasakthi Party and Mahajan Socialist Party of Manda Krishna Madiga fielded nominees from a few constituencies.
Some like Dalit Bahujan Party, All India Liberal Party or Navbharat National Party are not known much but have their nominees in the fray. Though only a few of them make a dent on the electoral outcome, when the winning margin is thin their votes may make the difference.
For Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha too, 13 independents filed the papers.
At Anakapalle, Dalit Bahujan Party, BSP and AAP fielded nominees.
In the Araku (ST) Lok Sabha, AAP has fielded a nominee and six independents are in the fray. For the three Lok Sabha seats, a total of 20 independents are in fray.
