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Congress bags Palasa municipality

Srikakulam: The Congress has retained the Palasa-Kasibugga municipality for which it had to fight a high-pitch battle with arch-rival TDP. Out of the 25 wards in the municipality, the Congress candidates won 14 and the TDP seven. Four Independents, two of them Congress rebels, and the other two fielded by Vice-Chairman of ZP Duvvada Srinivas, since suspended from the Congress for his anti-party activities, also won.

The CPI which had put up five candidates drew a blank.

As the Congress secured the required simple majority, the way is cleared for its candidate to become chairperson, which is reserved for woman (general).

The election has salvaged the image of the Congress which had suffered two defeats in the MLC and the ZPTC elections this year. It has also boosted the image of Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, who had staked his personal prestige in the election and camped here for the last ten days.

Commenting on the results, Mr. Prasada Rao said: During the campaign, I urged the voters to consider the performance of Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Government. Even though it was an election to the local body, it was a litmus test for our Government and its performance. Our stand is vindicated and people had accepted our schemes and performance.

The TDP district unit president and Sompeta MLA, Gouthu Shyamsundar Sivaji said it is “people’s verdict and one has to accept it but money played an important role in the success of Congress candidates”. “We lost six wards with less than 50 votes,” said TDP district unit general secretary Kalamata Venkata Ramana Murthy. The election of chairperson is scheduled on December 10.

The jubilation in the Congress was marred by the defeat of its candidate in the 36th ward of Srikakulam municipality. This ward was important because it formed part of Srikakulam Assembly segment represented by Mr. Prasada Rao. The TDP candidate M.Srinivasa Rao won the seat.

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