Even as the scrutiny of nomination papers filed by the aspirants is in progress, the Telugu Desam Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday chalked out a deal with regard to seat sharing in the elections to the Kakinada Municipal Corporation (KMC).
After prolonged discussions, leaders of the two parties finalised the arrangement, according to which the BJP could field its candidates from nine of the 48 divisions for which the election would be conducted on August 29. The TDP would field its candidates from the remaining 39 divisions. Ministers Yanamala Ramakrishudu, K. Kala Venkata Rao and the BJP leader from Visakhapatnam Vishnukumar Raju participated in the series of discussions that lasted for three days.
As many as 493 sets of nominations were filed by aspirants from different political parties and independents till Thursday evening, the last date for filing of the papers. Officials of the KMC were on the job of scrutinising the nominations from Friday and the process was still in progress late in the evening. Once the scrutiny is over, the officials would announce the list of eligible candidates, from whom the political parties had to ensure withdrawal of the candidates other than the chosen ones.
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It seemed to be a tough task for the TDP, BJP and the YSRCP to ensure withdrawals, as at least two to five aspirants from each of these parties filed their nominations and some of them even launched campaign. The three parties may have to feel the heat of ‘rebel’ candidates from a good number of divisions and the implementation of the TDP-BJP poll alliance at the ground level too was at question, going by the good number of aspirants from the BJP.
Meanwhile, the High Court’s verdict on the very conduct of the elections is scheduled for August 16. A few individuals approached the court, challenging the Election Commission’s decision to conduct the elections in a hurried manner and exempting two divisions from the poll process. Following the hearing of petitions on Thursday, the High Court adjourned the case to Wednesday and the judgment is likely to be pronounced that day in all likelihood.