Pradeep vennelakanti Tirupati

Politicalactivity in Tirupati is picking up ahead of the municipal elections, with the Mayor post emerging as a major point of discussion among ruling alliance partners.

The race for the post has begun to heat up, with several TDP leaders lobbying for the coveted position and waiting for clarity on its reservation.

The government’s decision to hold direct elections for Mayor posts has increased interest among aspirants. Several leaders in the TDP have already started making efforts to secure the party’s backing, while speculation is also rife on social media over the likely reservation of the post and possible candidates.

Caste equations have become part of the discussion, with social media posts claiming that TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu has assured the post to a particular community. However, there is no official confirmation on such claims. Several names are currently being discussed in TDP circles. They include former MLA A Mohan, Anna Anitha Yadav, Dampuri Bhaskar Yadav, Penumadu Praveen, RC Munikrishna, NB Harshavardhan Reddy and Pushpavathi Yadav. Former Mayor M Sugunamma, G Narasimha Yadav and M Devanarayana Reddy are also reportedly seeking the opportunity mostly for their family members.

Jana Sena leaders Pasupuleti Hariprasad, Kiran Royal, Tammisetti Venkateswarlu and Subhashini are among others whose names are being mentioned in connection with the Mayor race. For now, the BJP is not seeking the Mayor post and is instead focusing on securing key corporator positions. There is speculation in political circles that the Mayor post could be reserved for BC-General which may pave the way for aspirants from Yadava community. Interestingly, the previous Mayor Dr R Sirisha Yadav of YSRCP was also from the same community.

The delimitation of divisions has already been completed, and political parties and aspirants are now waiting for the reservation process to conclude.

The announcement is expected to bring clarity to the Mayor race as well as the competition for individual corporator seats.

Meanwhile, the TDP, Jana Sena and BJP have begun preparations for the local body elections. At a recent coordination meeting of the Tirupati Parliament constituency, leaders of the three parties stressed the need to work together and arrive at an understanding on seat sharing.

The leaders said the alliance would follow the decisions of the party leadership on reservations and seat allocation.

They also noted that several aspirants from the TDP and Jana Sena are seeking tickets and that clarity on the number of seats to be allotted to each party would help in finalising the adjustments.