Independent candidates may turn out to be kingmakers in Vizianagaram municipal polls

Independent candidate Ch. C. S. V. Raju campaigning at Babametta in Vizianagaram.

After a peaceful polling concluded on Sunday, the candidates, who contested the Vizianagaram municipal polls for mayor and corporator posts, have been eagerly waiting for the results scheduled to be declared on Tuesday. However, political analysts believe that the independent candidates will turn out to be the kingmakers.

“Votes polled for independent candidates would be crucial in places where the contest is very close between candidates of YSRCP and alliance parties,” Veteran journalist and political analyst Elisetti Suresh said, adding that even 100 votes for an independent candidate can change the fate of candidates, as the win margin is expected to range between 3,500 and 4,500 votes in divisions.

As many as 169 candidates contested for 62 divisions in Vizianagaram. NDA alliance fielded 62 candidates, and as many candidates from YSRCP. The remaining 45 candidates belonging to Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and independents are expected to pose a major challenge for the candidates of YSRCP and alliance parties. Many independent candidates are hopeful of victory in the triangular contest in their respective divisions.

Businessman Attada Chandu, who backed the election campaign for his relative Attada Varalakshmi, exuded confidence about her victory, claiming that voters rejected major parties as they failed to develop their area for many decades.

A.P. Bhatrajula Sangham general secretary Chitta Chandrasekhar Varma Raju, who contested in Ward-22, is hopeful of winning the seat with a decent margin.

Interestingly, many mayor candidates sought the help of independent candidates who contested for the divisions in several places. The independent corporator candidates’ support may turn out to be crucial as the vote margin of the mayor candidates will be very little, with the tough fight between TDP nominee Avanapu Bhargavi and YSRCP candidate Kolagatla Sravani.

Both candidates are hopeful of cross-voting in their favour. However, the drop in vote percentage has become a worry point for the candidates. Only 62.73% of the vote was registered in Vizianagaram. Out of 2.33 lakh voters, only 1,39,911 people exercised their voting right in Vizianagaram.

Meanwhile, the government made elaborate arrangements for the counting of votes of candidates for mayoral posts and corporator candidates of 62 divisions. For Vizianagaram municipality, the counting will be done at Rajeev Stadium. CKM junior college is the venue for counting of votes of Nellimarla and the counting process of Bobbili municipality will be done at the Growth Centre.