Cyclone Arnab: Corporator candidates shifts focus to relief works from electioneering in Vizag

VISAKHAPATNAM With heavy rain and gale under the influence of very severe cyclonic storm Arnab leaving a trail of destruction in Visakhapatnam, the candidates in the fray for the civic body polls in the city have shifted focus from electioneering to relief and restoration work. The candidates belonging to the ruling alliance and opposition parties, who were busy in hectic campaign in the run-up to the civic body polls scheduled for November 1, visited the affected neighbourhoods to assist the residents and coordinate efforts to restore essential services.

From Tuesday evening, several candidates were seen working in their respective wards, alongside the workers and Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) personnel, to clear choked drains, remove fallen trees, address waterlogging issues and coordinate with the Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) to restore power supply. For many candidates, it was an opportunity to demonstrate their accessibility and responsiveness to ward-level issues at this crucial juncture.

NDA mayoral candidate Mukka Sravani participated in relief and restoration efforts in Akkayyapalem, where fallen electric poles and uprooted trees caused inconvenience to residents. She alerted the authorities concerned about the damage and coordinated with officials to expedite restoration work. In Bheemunipatnam, YSRCP Assembly constituency coordinator Botcha Anusha, daughter of YSRCP MLC Botcha Satyanarayana, toured several low-lying areas to assess the impact of the cyclone.

Accompanied by corporator candidates, she visited localities near hillocks and distributed relief material to affected residents. Several TDP and YSRCP candidates were involved in clearing fallen trees and debris in China Waltair on Tuesday night. Their teams remained on the ground as residents struggled to navigate roads blocked by fallen trees. In One Town, several YSRCP corporator candidates took part in efforts to clear fallen electric poles and facilitate the restoration of drinking water supplies.

They visited rehabilitation centres to check on the condition of residents evacuated from vulnerable localities and ensure that basic amenities were available. Former Jana Sena Party (JSP) GVMC floor leader B. Vasantha Lakshmi, along with her team, was seen coordinating relief efforts in several colonies. She urged residents to contact them in case of emergencies and mobilised party workers to assist people.

Meanwhile, election campaigning continued in several wards despite the adverse weather. Campaign vehicles equipped with public address systems moved through neighbourhoods making announcements, while candidates from the BJP, YSRCP, TDP and JSP conducted door-to-door campaigns in some areas, braving the rain. YSRCP mayoral candidate Varudu Kalyani, along with the corporator candidates, campaigned in the Anakapalli zone.

She took part in a cadre meeting. TDP MLA P.G.V.R. Naidu conducted door-to-door campaign with the West Assembly corporator candidates.