Campaign reaches peak for KMC polls

Kakinada: The political parties have stepped up their campaign after the High Court gave its nod for the Kakinada Municipal Corporation elections.In total, 241 candidates are in fray for the KMC elections. The Congress party is contesting in 17 divisions, Telugu Desam Party in 39 divisions, BJP in 9 divisions and the YSRCP is contesting in all the 48 divisions.

All parties have stepped up campaign for their respective party candidates. The ruling TDP and YSRCP have been applying their political strategies to grab the voters’ attention and win maximum number of divisions in the polls. The Kakinada mayor seat is reserved for woman candidate.

The TDP has earlier stated that the mayor seat will be given to a Kapu woman if they win. It is evident that the TDP is using clever strategy to pacify the agitating Kapus who are demanding their community inclusion in BC list. Following TDP suit, the YSRCP also declared that their party will also give the mayor seat to a Kapu woman if they win in major divisions.

The campaign started on Thursday as the poll material reached the party offices. All the contesting candidates, accompanied by their close relatives and supporters are engaged in pleasing the voters. The campaign has reached peak in some divisions with active participation of women in the campaign for their husbands who are contesting in the elections. The women along with other workers have been visiting every house seeking votes in favour of their candidate.

Some contestants are concentrating on people in the voters list who left Kakinada and have been living in other places. They are contacting the distant living voters through their relatives or close friends and seeking them to participate in the elections. It is learnt, the party workers are promising to pay to-and-fro transport charges to distant living voters.