NDA allies fight for Srikakulam ZP chief role

UPDATE - follow-up to TDP, JSP vie for Srikakulam ZP chairperson post: The Telugu Desam Party and the Jana Sena Party are locked in a tough race for the Srikakulam Zilla Parishad chairperson position.

Seat Count Dispute

TDP leaders including Union Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu and State Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu oppose giving the top post to their ally. The TDP won twenty-two out of thirty Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency seats in the district. Meanwhile, the Jana Sena Party secured only six seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party and the YSR Congress Party won one seat each.

Claims And Demands

Srikakulam Urban Development Authority chairman Korikana Ravikumar wants the post for his wife Korikana Bhavani, who won from L. N. Peta. He has strong ties to Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and wants to build grassroots party support. Since the seat is reserved for a backward class woman, BJP member Siripurapu Triveni from Hiramandalam has also claimed the post. The allies already gave the Srikakulam Mayor post to the Jana Sena Party candidate Daneti Radha Rani, and TDP members argue that handing over both major positions to one ally is unfair.

Timeline And Stakes

November sixteenth is the final date to submit nomination papers for the Mayor seat, while party B-forms can be submitted until November eighteenth. Political uncertainty surrounding both positions is expected to persist over the coming days.

Context

Local political alliances often face friction during the distribution of prominent administrative posts after elections. Party leaders balance local electoral strength against coalition agreements to keep alliance partners satisfied.