Andhra Pradesh: NDA Sweeps GVMC Standing Committee Polls

 Vishakhapatnam: NDA members on Wednesday won all seats in the standing committee elections for the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC).

However, YSRC candidates alleged that the NDA members secured victory through illicit means and misuse of power. The YSRC raised concerns about irregularities in the counting process, citing use of pencil-marked ballot papers and significant cross-voting from their opponents.

Seven members received over 60 votes, with the lowest at 54 and the highest at 65. Villuri Bhaskara Rao, Gollagani Veera Rao, Pisini Varaha Lakshminarasimham, Galla Polipalli, Bommidi Ramana, Balla Srinivasa Rao, Saragadam Rajasekhar, Nolli Nukaratnam, Lakshmibai Puli and Pilla Mangalamma are among the winners.

The NDA alliance initially held a slight lead over the YSRC, making the election intriguing. During voting, the alliance had 49 corporators, compared to the YSRC's 47, prompting both sides to keep their corporators in separate camps.

The alliance leaders expressed confidence that some YSRC members would defect to their side while YSRC leaders claimed that the NDA's corporators would switch allegiance.

Ten NDA and as many YSRC corporators contested the election. Despite 98 wards in GVMC, the current count stands at 97. These corporators exclusively hold the right to vote in standing committee elections.

The standing committee has the authority to make administrative decisions and oversee works valued up to Rs 50 lakh executed by the GVMC. Pending approval from the standing committee, undertaking tasks and settling bills will proceed smoothly. However, any works exceeding Rs 50 lakh and decisions applicable citywide must receive council approval.

The council convenes once every three months while the standing committee assembles biweekly, thus wielding substantial influence due to its role in making critical decisions. Ten members are expected to serve on the standing committee for one year, all elected through secret balloting by GVMC corporators.