Date:27/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/27/stories/2008082751230300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Suribabu elected civic chief unanimously

Correspondent

VIZIANAGARAM: As expected Avanapu Suribabu, vice-chairman of the Vizianagaram Municipality has been declared elected as chairman unanimously at the formal election held at the municipal office here on Tuesday. S. Swami Babu, Additional Project Director of DRDA was the Presiding Officer. K.V.Thammanna Setti (28th ward) proposed his name and Y. Kumara Swamy (25th ward) seconded him. As there were no contestants for the post, the election process was completed in just five minutes. Meesala Geetha (Congress), whose resignation prompted the State Election Commission to issue notification for the election, did not attend. Her sister Penumajji Vijayalakshmi (11th ward) too stayed away from the election. All the 11 TDP councillors did not turn up till 11.25am when the Presiding Officer began the election process, though it was scheduled to commence at 11am.

‘Gentleman’ agreement

It may be recalled that in the elections to the civic body, K. Veerabhadra Swamy, independent MLA, fielded his men on the Bahujan Samaj Party ticket for “convenience.” In the results declared for the 38 wards, the Congress and the BSP shared 13 wards equally; the TDP won 11 wards and an independent one. As no party got a clear majority, Minister for Housing Botcha Satyanarayana and Mr. Swamy entered into a ‘gentlemen’ agreement. As per the agreement, the Congress and the BSP were to share the term of Office of the Chairperson equally.

But, with Mr. Swamy returning to the Congress fold along with his ward councillors, Ms. Geetha remained in the post for about two years and 10 months thus causing heartburn to Vice-Chairman Suribabu (BSP). With the launching of new party by film actor Chiranjeevi, the Minister and the MLA decided to adopt the ‘gentlemen’ agreement to keep the flock together and asked Ms. Geetha to quit the post citing “personal reasons.” Ms. Geetha and Ms. Vijayalakshmi are daughters of senior Congress leader Gurana Sadhu Rao. His son Gurana Ayyalu had resigned from Youth Congressand joined Mr. Chiranjeevi’s outfit. It would not be a surprise if the entire Gurana family, belonging to the BC community, joined the film actor’s party sooner or later.