Date:31/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/31/stories/2008083151480300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Warangal

Corporators take on Mayor

Staff Reporter

Boycott all functions attended by Warangal Mayor E. Swarna

YSR asks the corporators to end their dissidence but to no avail
Corporators contend that the Mayor has lost control over the administration

WARANGAL: Groupism continues to rein in the Warangal town Congress with dissident corporators sticking to their guns demanding the ouster of Mayor E. Swarna.

Now the corporators have decided to boycott all the functions to be attended by the Mayor including in their own localities.

Sources within the party said that the Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and senior leader K.V.P. Ramachander Rao asked the corporators to end their dissidence and withdraw their demand forthwith, but they remain unrelenting.

In the 50 member council, the Congress party has 27 corporators and 23 corporators are united in their resolve to move a no confidence motion against Mayor E. Swarna and deputy mayor E. Ravinder allegedly irked over the appointment of Pulla Bhaskar as president of Town Congress Committee, who is the rival of MLA B. Saraiah.

The corporators were reportedly supported by the MLA.

Off record

The corporators contend that the Mayor lost control over the administration and as a result the officials were not heeding their requests for developmental works in their localities.

But, off the record, their contention was that the Mayor failed to prevail upon the party leadership to prevent Mr. Bhaskar from getting the party post.

MLA B Saraiah sees a threat to his political career from Mr. Bhaskar who was defeated by an independent candidate in the last municipal elections with the support of the former.

With the ongoing tussle between the corporators and the Mayor, the activities of Municipal Corporation came to a pause.