Political quarters abuzz as Vizag Mayor to be elected directly after 26 years

The last direct election to the Visakhapatnam Mayor’s post was held in 2000. | Photo Credit: Representative Photo Political quarters in Visakhapatnam are abuzz ahead of the upcoming local body elections, with the ruling NDA and opposition YSRCP camps intensifying discussions on the potential candidates for the coveted Mayor post.The upcoming Mayoral election will mark a major departure from previous polls, especially in how the incumbent is chosen.Amendments have been made recently to the Municipal Corporations Act of 1955 and the Municipalities Act, 1965 in the Assembly, mandating direct election for the Mayors of Municipal Corporations, Chairpersons of Municipalities and Nagar Panchayats.For the first time in 26 years, the Mayor will be elected directly by the people rather than chosen by the elected corporators.Visakhapatnam has a history of directly electing Mayors. Former Mayors D.V. Subba Rao, Sabbam Hari and R. Ramani were elected directly by the people. The last direct election to the Mayor’s post was held in 2000, when Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (VMC) was in existence.“The system was changed after the upgradation of the VMC to the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) in 2007. After the local body elections in 2007, Congress leader Pulusu Janardhan Reddy became the first Mayor of the GVMC, after being elected by the corporators,” recalls former corporator and TDP senior leader Lella Koteswara Rao.He said that the local body polls were not held from 2012 to 2021. The indirect election for the Mayor post continued in 2021. Golagani Hari Venkata Kumar of the YSRCP was elected Mayor. Peela Srinivasa Rao of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was elected Mayor in 2025, following a no-confidence motion, through the same process, he said.“The Mayor should be elected through the people’s mandate. This will bring greater transparency, power and responsibility to the post and help in taking the city’s development forward,” he opined.Meanwhile, intense discussions are reportedly under way in the NDA and the YSRCP camps over potential candidates.In the YSRCP, a former MLA from the city has reportedly evinced interest in contesting for the Mayor’s post, subject to the approval of party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. Party sources said a few Assembly constituency coordinators and senior leaders are also keen on entering the race.The NDA camp, particularly the TDP, is equally abuzz. Several former MLAs, relatives and close aides of legislators, political representatives and leaders who were not given significant opportunities during the previous elections are reportedly lobbying for the nomination. Many of them are said to be waiting for a decision from the party leadership.Bheemunipatnam MLA and former Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao recently described the Mayor’s post as a prestigious position, in view of Visakhapatnam’s growing importance as a major urban and economic centre.“Visakhapatnam is the only Greater Municipal Corporation in the State. It is emerging as a global city, with projects such as the Google Data Centre, Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport and several other major investments and development projects,” Mr. Srinivasa Rao said.On the possible candidates from the NDA, Mr. Srinivasa Rao said, “Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan, BJP State president P.V.N. Madhav and senior leaders will discuss the strategy. Discussions on candidates will begin only after the election notification is issued,” he said. Published - August 27, 2026 07:35 pm IST