YSRC, TDP emerge as major contenders in Prakasam

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the YSR Congress (YSRC) have emerged to be the major contenders in the elections to six urban local bodies in Prakasam district due on March 30, with the Congress almost out of the race for the want of candidates.

2.12 lakh people to cast vote

The civic polls are considered as an acid test for the major political parties, to be followed by the general elections. As many as 2.12 lakh voters including 1.07 lakh women will decide the electoral fortunes of 568 candidates in the fray. The Congress managed to field candidates only in about 50 of the total 145 wards in the six poll-bound local bodies.

Campaigning picked up pace for the elections to two municipalities of Chirala and Markapur and four Nagara Panchayats of Addanki, Chimakurthy, Giddalur and Kanigiri, with the candidates and their supporters slogging it out to woo the voters.

The TDP seems to have an edge in Markapur and Kanigiri, while the YSR Congress has better chances in Chimakurthi and Addanki. In Chirala, sitting MLA Amanchi Krishnamohan, whose supporters has entered the fray under the banner of the Chirala Parirakshana Samiti, may upset the chances of the YSR Congress and TDP ward nominees.

In Giddalur, supporters of sitting MLA Anna Ram Babu, who is tipped to join the TDP, have filed nominations and they are likely to tilt the scales in their favour if their leader is given the party ticket for the Assembly polls.