GMC elections in June, says Pulla Rao

After a gap of five years, elections to the general body of Guntur Municipal Corporation would be held in June.

Confirming the decision of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Minister for Agriculture P. Pulla Rao said here on Saturday at the council hall of GMC that elections would be held in the second or third week of June. The TDP is expected to throw its full weight in the elections as it has been out of power for 10 years. With the Guntur town within the Capital Region, all eyes would be on the elections, the ruling party would be expecting to consolidate its strength.

But the polls could lead to dissension in the party ranks as a host of leaders are in the race for the post of Mayor. Guntur West MLA Modugula Venugopala Reddy would be keen in having a candidate of his choice, while other groups led by Minister Pulla Rao, MP Galla Jayadev and Narsaraopet MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao would also throw their hats.

The name of former MLC Rayapati Srinivas has been already doing rounds but the party might throw up a surprise in fielding a non-kamma candidate.

In the run up to the elections, the TDP was also keen to consolidate its strength by show casing the developmental works, including a UGD scheme being taken up with Rs.900 crore, drinking water project taken up at a cost of Rs.460 crore and other developmental works.

Municipal Commissioner K. Kanna Babu has laid out a vision plan for changing the face of the town.