Women’s quota for GVMC Mayor post sets off lobbying; senior leaders push spouses and daughters

Officials receive election material at the Swarna Bharathi Indoor Stadium in Visakhapatnam ahead of the local body elections. File | Photo Credit: V. Raju

Following the announcement that the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) Mayor’s post has been reserved for the Women (General) category for the local body elections, aspiring candidates from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP),Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Jana Sena Party (JSP) have begun lobbying their respective party leaderships for the coveted position.

Several aspirants are reportedly seeking the nomination. The TDP is keen on securing the mayoral post, citing its strong electoral performance in the core city areas of Visakhapatnam for the past two decades.

The contest for the position is also assuming significance because the Mayor will be elected directly by voters under the proposed election process, unlike the previous system in which elected corporators chose the Mayor from among themselves.

Before the announcement of reservations, several former MLAs and senior leaders from the alliance parties were reportedly interested in contesting the local body elections themselves. But with the Mayor’s post now reserved for women under the General category, some senior leaders are understood to be considering fielding their spouses, daughters or other eligible family members for the position.