Left Parties and AAP Form Alliance for Visakhapatnam Municipal Elections

Left parties and the Aam Aadmi Party have formed an alliance to contest the upcoming Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation elections. The coalition has announced a total of 25 candidates for corporator posts, aiming to offer an alternative form of governance in the city.

Candidate Distribution

The CPI(M) will field 14 candidates, while the CPI is putting forward six candidates and the AAP is contesting four seats. In addition to these party nominees, the alliance is backing one independent candidate, B. Ramani, in Ward 119. Leaders released these lists at a press conference held on Friday, October 23, 2026, at Yechury Bhavan in Maddilapalem, Visakhapatnam. Other Left groups supporting the front include MCPI, CPI(ML) Praja Poru, and SUCI.

Key Issues and Statements

Alliance leaders stated that their campaign will focus on civic problems, rising taxes, public resources, and better access to essential services. They also promised to oppose pollution. Ch. Narasinga Rao, a CPI(M) State leader, accused the government of backing corporate interests over ordinary people and raised concerns about proposed data centres harming local water resources and green cover. J.V. Satyanarayana Murthy, CPI State assistant secretary, claimed that opposition candidates faced intimidation during the process and that nomination papers were torn. M. Ravi Bhaskar Rao, AAP district convener, said that ideologically similar parties united to provide an alternative municipal administration.

Context

Municipal elections in India elect local government bodies responsible for civic amenities and city infrastructure. Local fronts and party alliances are common in municipal polls to pool voter bases against larger political parties.