Voters in Vijayawada Choose Candidates Over Development in Urban Elections

Candidates and political parties rather than city development turned out to be the main factor for voters in Vijayawada during the second ordinary elections to urban local bodies held on Sunday.

Voter Views

At polling stations set up at Andhra Loyola College, some voters from the economically weaker sections in Gunadala did not even know the names of the candidates contesting from their division, stating they only knew the election symbols. While these voters mentioned drainage issues in their area, they did not expect any improvement after the elections, and a similar response came from voters at the Montessori College of Physiotherapy. Meanwhile, at Ranigari Thota, which has many Yadav and SC residents who shifted there due to the construction of the Pandit Nehru Bus Station in the 1980s, residents strongly supported NDA mayoral candidate Vangaveeti Radha Krishna because he ensured they received land pattas or title deeds. A beneficiary named Nagaraju called it a way to show gratitude to Mr. Radha Krishna, while another woman said she wanted to vote for a candidate simply because she found him good-natured.

Controsing Voices

Only two or three people said they were voting for development, including Ravi Ramesh, the founder of Amaravati Runners, who cast his vote at Andhra Loyola College. He expressed disappointment that political parties focus mostly on party survival rather than solving local issues, pointing out that the city lacks children's parks and basic facilities need improvement, though he hoped the situation would get better with a new set of corporators.

Context

Local body elections in urban areas decide representatives like corporators who handle civic issues such as sanitation, drainage, and parks. Voters in local polls often make decisions based on personal loyalty, community ties, or individual candidate goodwill rather than broad policy platforms.