Cong. loses ground in W. Godavari

The party fails to field candidates in 30 ZPTCs and 731 MPTCs. The party held the Zilla Parishad with 24 out of the 46 ZPTCs and six out of seven civic bodies, including the Eluru Municipal Corporation (EMC), in its kitty during the latest term that expired three years ago.

The State bifurcation appears to have a telling effect on the prospects of the Congress in the coming civic polls in West Godavari district. Marred by the continuous exodus of its leaders to other parties, the Congress has even failed in fielding candidates from majority of the ZPTCs, MPTCs and ward/divisions in nine civic bodies.

After five out of seven Congress MLAs from the district including former Minister Pitani Satyanarayana (Achanta) and DCCpresident Kothapalli Subbarayudu (Narsapur) switched loyalty, the party appears to be an army without the commander just ahead of the polls.

The party held the Zilla Parishad with 24 out of the 46 ZPTCs and six out of seven civic bodies, including the Eluru Municipal Corporation (EMC), in its kitty during the latest term that expired three years ago.

Out of race

According to the official data, the Congress has failed to field its candidates in 30 ZPTCs at the completion of the filing of nominations. This means the party does not qualify even to stake claims for the ZP Chairman post. The party has also remained out of the fray in 731 out of the 903 MPTCs for want of candidates.

In Eluru Municipal Corporation (EMC) comprising 50 divisions, the Congress has nominated candidates for only 13 divisions.

In the newly upgraded Jangareddygudem Municipal Panchayat, the Congress has been completely edged out with no party candidates in fray all the 20 wards.

It fielded two candidates each in Tanuku comprising 34 wards, Palacol (native constituency of the party star campaigner K. Chiranjeevi) with 31 wards and Narsapur with 31 divisions.

Poor presence

The statistics suggest the poor presence of the Congress in the major civic bodies in the district.

The party holds only one ward of the 23 in Kovvur, 13 of the 39 wards in Bhimavaram, 4 in Tadepalligudem comprising 35 wards and 19 in Nidadavole. It is evident from this bleak scenario that the Congress has lost the ground well ahead before the elections.

Meanwhile, the TDP and the YSRC has emerged as the major contenders for the posts in the local bodies.