Tension palpable as GVMC gears up to discuss no-trust move against Mayor on April 19

Tension palpable as GVMC gears up to discuss no-trust move against Mayor on April 19. The YSRCP and the Left parties decide to boycott the session. The NDA claims to have the support of 76 members, two more than the magic figure needed to win the motion.

Political heat is palpable in the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) as the council is all set to discuss on April 19 the crucial no-confidence motion moved against Mayor G. Hari Venkata Kumari of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).

With the civic body turning the nerve centre of the political machinations, tension is running high among the corporators, with many maintaining silence on their next move.

Even as the political drama grows increasingly uncertain, intense deliberations are under way behind the scene with the leaders of various parties planning their strategies for the crucial meeting.

The YSRCP, led by its district president Gudivada Amarnath, has already made a decisive move by opting to boycott the session. The party has issued a whip to the corporators not to attend the meeting, and has also warned of disciplinary action against those who violate the order.

The NDA, comprising the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Jana Sena Party (JSP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), are optimistic about winning the no-trust move. Its corporators say they have already secured the magic figure – 74, which is required to win the no-confidence motion.

There are 97 corporators for 98 wards and 14 ex officio members in the GVMC.

Till a couple of days ago, the NDA reportedly had the support of 72 corporators — 48 TDP, 11 JSP, two BJP, apart from 11 ex officio members. The YSRCP claimed to have the support of 34 corporators and three ex officio members. Two corporators from the CPI and CPI(M) had already announced their decision to boycott the meeting.