Voters prioritise candidates over development in local polls in Vijayawada

People stand in queue line outside the Andhra Loyola College to cast their vote in the municipal elections in Vijayawada on Sunday.

Candidates and parties, not development of the city, have become the main deciding factor for voters in Vijayawada in the second ordinary elections to urban local bodies, which was held on Sunday.

At the polling stations set up at the Andhra Loyola College in the city on Sunday, a few voters belonging to the economically weaker sections from Gunadala, did not even know the name of the candidates contesting from their division. They said they only knew the symbols. While they said mentioned about drainage issues in their area, they did not expect any improvement in the situation after the elections.

A similar response came from voters at the polling station set up at Montessori College of Physiotheraphy.

At Ranigari Thota, which comprises a large number of Yadavs and SCs, some residents had to shift to the area due to the construction of the Pandit Nehru Bus Station in the 1980s. This section swears by NDA mayoral candidate Vangaveeti Radha Krishna, claiming that it was he who ensured they received pattas (title deeds).

One of the beneficiaries, Nagaraju, said that it was their way of expressing gratitude to Mr. Radha Krishna. Another woman said she wanted to vote for a candidate because she found him good-natured.

Only two or three persons said they would vote for a candidate because they wanted to see development. One of them is Ravi Ramesh, founder of Amaravati Runners, who had come to the Andhra Loyola College to cast his vote. He expressed disappointment that political parties were putting most of their efforts and attention on ensuring the party survives, and putting little efforts into addressing the issues.

“There are no children’s parks in the city. Basic facilities need to be improved, but no one talks about that,” he said, adding that he hopes the situation would improve with the new set of corporators.