Date:17/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/17/stories/2008121759130300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada

Unanimous election of Mayor a good trend, says Lagadapati

Staff Reporter

All floor leaders assure Ratna Bindu of their cooperation

Opposition reminds Ratna Bindu about her responsibilities
They sound a word of caution to the Mayor

PHOTO: RAJU. V

All the best: Former Mayors Tadi Sakuntala (left) and Mallika Begum share a lighter moment with M.V. Ratna Bindu after she was elected Mayor in Vijayawada on Tuesday. —

VIJAYAWADA: M.V. Ratna Bindu, soon after being elected Mayor, was flooded with greetings and reminded about her duties and responsibilities by representatives of all political parties.

While Opposition parties – the CPI, the CPI (M) and the TDP – reminded her about her responsibilities as Mayor, Congress MLA Devineni Rajasekhar (Nehru) did not hesitate to say that her performance would play a crucial role in the ensuing elections.

“It’s going to a tough time. You have to face both Assembly and Parliament elections. Our seats are dependent on your performance,” said Mr. Rajasekhar, even while congratulating her.

While MP Lagadapati Rajagopal observed that the unanimous election of Ms. Ratna Bindu had set a ‘good trend’ in the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC), Vijayawada East MLA Vangaveeti Radhakrishna said: “Initially some people tried to prevent your (Ratna Bindu) election. However, you have been elected unanimously.”

Mr. Radhakrishna’s remarks came in the backdrop of speculations in the party for some time that her candidature might not be considered for the remaining term of the VMC general body in view of her family’s ‘close links’ with Praja Rajyam Party president Chiranjeevi. Mr. Rajagopal also kept the speculations alive by maintaining that there was no ‘agreement’ of any kind in the party about giving next chance to Ms. Ratna Bindu.

Floor leaders P. Gowtham Reddy (CPI), Ch. Babu Rao (CPI-M) and Y. Ramana (TDP), besides independent corporator Mahadevu Appaji, who is now sailing with the Praja Rajyam Party, and others assured her of their cooperation but sounded a word of caution that they would stiffly oppose any ‘anti-people policies’.

The environs of the VMC council hall and building were filled with jestings and wits during the election and after. A slip of tongue by Deputy Mayor Samanthapudi Narasaraju and Vijayawada West MLA Sk. Nasar Vali crated some lighter moments in the hall.

The corporators burst into laughter when Mr. Narasaraju clubbed the names of present MLA (Sk. Nasar Vali) and former MLA (Jaleel Khan), and said: “Now, Vijayawada West MLA Janaab Jaleel Nasar Vali will speak.”

Mirthful moments

The mirthful moments continued when Mr. Nasar Vali forgot the name of former Mayor Tadi Sakuntala, his former party colleague who is now sailing with the Praja Rajyam, and sought the help of Mr. Radhakrishna sitting next to him in recollecting it.

“What is the name of Praja Rajyam girl?” he asked, even as the mike was on.

The photographers had their hands full when Ms. Ratna Bindu was greeted by her husband M. Vijay Prasad, daughter M. Srija, who came straight from school, son Vamsi Durga Prasad, relatives and followers.