BRS, Congress, CPI locked in tough Kothagudem contest

Kothagudem municipal elections see fierce competition as BRS, Congress, and CPI vie for control of 60 wards, while BJP struggles to assert influence. Aswaraopet votes for the first time amid local alliances and extensive campaigning by party leaders

Khammam: There has been a tough competition between BRS, Congress and CPI in the newly formed Kothagudem Municipal Corporation while BJP is trying to prove its presence.

In Kothagudem Municipal Corporation there are 1,34,775 voters in 60 municipal divisions. There are 70,314 women voters, 64,431 men and 30 other voters. The BRS is contesting the elections independently by fielding candidates for all the 59 divisions while unable to field its candidate in the 35th division due to technical reasons.

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In view of an alliance between CPI and TDP, CPI fielded its candidates for 56 municipal divisions and four TDP candidates are also contesting on CPI ticket as TDP has not given B-forms to them. Congress fielded its candidates for the 58 divisions and allotted two seats to CPI (M).

The newly formed Aswaraopet Municipality with 22 municipal wards is going to polls for the first time. There are 8,762 women voters, 8,084 men and four other voters. In Aswaraopet TDP is supporting the BRS while CPI (M) is supporting Congress here.

BRS MP Vaddiraju Ravichandra, former Minister Vanama Nageswara Rao and the party district president Rega Kantha Rao have campaigned extensively in Kothagudem by conducting corner meetings in support of the party candidates.

Ravichandra stated that Congress failed to develop Kothagudem during its two years of rule. The government failed to address the pending issue of SCCL lands regularisation even though thousands of residents were issued title deeds during the BRS regime.

For CPI, the party state secretary and Kothagudem MLA Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao took the responsibility of getting the party candidates elected. The party senior leader K Narayana also conducted a campaign here and asked voters not to trust Congress as it cheated the public with false promises.

Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy has been the only star campaigner for the party. The minister tried to convince the voters that he would take the responsibility of Kothagudem development.

The Minister also took elections in newly formed Edulapuram Municipality in Khammam with 45, 256 voters in 32 municipal wards as a challenge while BRS and CPI giving a tough fight here. A Congress candidate Tammineni Mangathai got elected unanimously from the 15th ward.