Retired IPS officer AB Venkateswara Rao is set to contest the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation mayoral election as an independent candidate, with support from the Congress, CPI, CPM and several people’s organisations.
Venkateswara Rao is scheduled to file his nomination on Sunday, October 18. The Left parties have agreed to support his candidature and jointly contest corporator seats. Congress also extended its backing following his appeal to APCC president YS Sharmila.
A 1989-batch IPS officer, Venkateswara Rao served twice as Vijayawada Police Commissioner. He also held senior positions in the Andhra Pradesh Police Department, including Intelligence chief and Anti-Corruption Bureau Director General.
His entry adds another candidate to the Vijayawada mayoral contest, where Jana Sena has fielded former MLA Vangaveeti Radha Krishna on behalf of the ruling TDP-Jana Sena-BJP alliance.
The YSR Congress Party has nominated former Vijayawada Mayor Rayana Bhagya Lakshmi. Her candidature was announced as part of the party’s preparations for the upcoming municipal elections.
With Vangaveeti Radha Krishna representing the ruling alliance, Rayana Bhagya Lakshmi contesting for YSRCP and AB Venkateswara Rao entering as an independent backed by Congress and the Left parties, Vijayawada is set for a three-way mayoral contest.
The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation elections are scheduled for October 28, with the final list of contestants subject to the completion of the nomination process.
