Left Parties and AAP Unveil Joint Manifesto for Visakhapatnam Municipal Polls

Joint Manifesto Released

Left parties and the Aam Aadmi Party released a joint manifesto on Thursday for the upcoming Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation elections scheduled for November 1. The alliance brings together the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India, the Aam Aadmi Party, the MCPI, and the CPI(ML) Praja Poru. Leaders of these groups appealed to voters to reject both the TDP-Jana Sena-BJP alliance and the YSRCP, accusing them of implementing anti-people policies. The formal release took place at the CPI(M) district office located in Maddilapalem, Visakhapatnam.

Promises and Demands

The manifesto outlines plans to scrap the capital value-based property tax system and stop a yearly 15 percent hike. It demands a flat property tax of 50 rupees a year for houses built through government schemes, alongside a guarantee of 150 litres of free drinking water daily for every person. The parties oppose the privatisation of water supply, the installation of tap metres, and the establishment of data centres that draw on drinking water supplies. Other pledges include curbing pollution from local ports and pharma units, cancelling G.O. Nos. 673 and 674 which pave the way for privatising civic services, and halting the sale of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. They also seek a minimum wage of 26,000 rupees for unorganised and contract workers, equal pay for municipal contract staff, and the cancellation of permissions for the Lulu Mall project in favour of a science centre and museum.

Leadership and Support

The joint statement was issued by CPI(M) district secretary M. Jaggu Naidu, CPI district secretariat member M. Pydi Raju, and AAP district convenor M. Ravi Bhaskara Rao. A joint meeting also resolved to support independent candidates running in Wards 58, 60, 79, 119, and 120.

Context

Municipal corporation elections decide local governance issues like property tax rates, water supply, waste management, and civic service delivery in urban areas. Political parties often form regional alliances or release joint manifestos to pool their resources and voter bases against major ruling parties in local body polls.