Andhra Pradesh parties prepare for urban fight ahead of big battle

HYDERABAD: Political parties in Andhra Pradesh will face a preliminary test of their strength in the elections to Urban Local Bodies (ULB) slated for tomorrow.

Elections to 146 municipalities and 10 municipal corporations across the state are being held after a delay of three and a half years as the Congress shied away from polls when term of the civic bodies ended way back in October 2010.

It was only after the Supreme Court came down heavily that the State Government got down to conduct the polls.

However, there is suspense over declaration of results of the ULB polls as Andhra Pradesh High Court is currently hearing a petition seeking withholding of results as they could influence the outcome of the April-May elections to Lok Sabha and the Assembly in the State.

The HC is expected to pronounce its decision on April 1, while the counting of votes is scheduled for April 2.

The Congress is practically out of contention in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions (Seemandhra), while YSR Congress is out of picture in Telangana even before the ballots are cast.

Congress is in a shambles in Seemandhra because of its decision to grant statehood to Telangana.

Jaganmohan Reddy-led YSR Congress, which had been a vocal supporter of united AP, has hardly any presence in Telangana, which will become a state on June 2.

Of the total 2,591 civic wards in 119 municipalities in 13 Seemandhra districts, the Congress could field nominees in only 1,132 wards, not even close to the halfway mark.

And, of the 363 civic divisions in seven municipal corporations going to polls in Seemandhra, the Congress is in the race in only 173.

The party has been reduced to such a miserable state that in Chittoor Municipal Corporation it could not field a single candidate for the 50 civic divisions.

In Kadapa Municipal Corporation, it managed just 8 and in Eluru only 11 out of the 50 divisions each.

The saving grace for the Congress was that it could remain in fight in all the 50 civic divisions in Vijayawada Municipal Corporation and 54 in Nellore corporation.