GVMC council meet set to be a stormy affair, as YSRCP, left parties prepare for protests

Ahead of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) council meeting on January 30, palpable tension seems to have gripped political circles as YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) members gear up for an agitation against a proposed agenda item.

YSRCP leaders have alleged that the GVMC is attempting to include an agenda to regularise nearly 54 acres of government land— worth ₹5,000 crore— in favour of Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat’s educational institution. The YSRCP corporators have already submitted a memorandum to Mayor Peela Srinivasa Rao urging him not to allow such items to be placed before the council.

Apart from YSRCP corporators planning to stage a dharna inside the council meeting, several senior YSRCP leaders, including Visakhapatnam district president K.K. Raju, former MLA Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar, and others, are reportedly planning to mobilise party supporters to hold a protest at the GVMC gate.

The YSRCP is also likely to receive support from Left party activists. CPI(M) corporator B. Ganga Rao has submitted a representation opposing the proposed agenda, and both the CPI and CPI(M) have been staging protests over the issue.

Meanwhile, the GVMC has prepared a 15-point agenda for the council meeting, with the possibility of introducing an additional table agenda.