Poll fever grips Kuppam municipality

TIRUPATI: With the State Election Commission notifying elections to various civic bodies across the state, poll fever seems to have gripped Kuppam municipality with both the ruling and opposition parties announcing their candidates and planning strategies to win the election.

The recent parishad and gram panchayat elections in Kuppam constituency came as a big jolt to Telugu Desam Party (TDP) as the YSR Congress bagged all the 4 ZPTCs and majority of MPTCs, and its supporters won about 80 percent of sarpanch posts. Against this backdrop, the forthcoming poll for Kuppam Municipality has become a litmus test for TDP to show its strength and send positive signals to the voters for the next general elections.

On the other hand, the YSRC, which established a clear dominance over the TD chief Chandrababu Naidu’s home segment in all local polls, is looking to wipe out the opposition completely from this constituency. As part of its poll strategy, the ruling party deployed legislators and senior leaders to repeat the success the party achieved in panchayat and parishad elections in the Kuppam municipal elections too.

The ruling party has chosen Dr. D. Sudheer, chairman of Kuppam’s Sri Priya Nursing Home, as its candidate for the post of municipal chairman. Advancing its show of strength, the YSRC conducted a public meeting on the occasion of the official distribution of second instalment of Aasara cheques last week. MP P.V. Mithun Reddy attended this meeting and announced a slew of developments for the town. In a bid to woo the members of Gandla and Balija communities, who are predominant in Kuppam municipality, YSRC leaders assured them of constructing community halls.

On the other hand, the TDP is also leaving no stone unturned to ensure majority in Kuppam municipal polls. Due to the humiliating defeat in the local elections, which almost led to a loss of face for the TD in the citadel of Naidu, the opposition party is trying hard to redeem its prestige and to restore what analysts say the sagging morale of the party cadre.

Amid the falling popularity graph, the TD chief visited Kuppam segment for two days last month to revive the party. Taking this municipal election extremely seriously, the TD chief has instructed his party senior leaders and candidates to visit each house before the campaign deadline and explain the party’s stand and commitment towards the town and various other issues.

The party high command is learnt to have chosen Trilok Naidu, an advocate and former sarpanch for the post of municipal chairman. Former minister N. Amarnath Reddy, district party president P. Nani and observers from the party’s state council reached Kuppam town and are working overtime to ensure the party’s victory in the municipal elections.