GVMC Passes No Confidence Motion Against YSRC Mayor

Visakhapatnam: In a significant political development, the NDA alliance passed a no-confidence motion against Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation mayor Golagani Hari Venkata Kumari of the YSRC Party at the meeting of the GVMC council that started at 11 am on Saturday.

The meeting commenced in the presence of 74 members belonging to TD, Jana Sena, BJP and those who shifted their allegiance from YSRC to these parties. YSRC corporators boycotted the meeting. The no-confidence motion passed successfully with all 74 corporators and ex-officio members present voting for it.

The victory, however, was not without a hitch. Gajuwaka 73rd Ward corporator Bhupathi Raju Sujatha, who had recently joined the alliance from YSRC, backed out, reducing the majority to 73 members. However, the alliance got the support of Priyanka Lakshmi, daughter of former YSRC minister Avanti Srinivas.

Those who voted in favour of the no-confidence motion comprised 63 corporators and 11 ex-officio members.

TD sources say Peela Srinivas has emerged as the alliance’s candidate for the mayoral position. He is expected to be sworn in as the new mayor of GVMC on Monday.

When the GVMC elections had been held four years ago, YSRC secured 58 out of 98 wards and Golagani Hari Venkata Kumari of the party went on to become the mayor. Over time, four independents and one TD candidate joined the YSRC.

The political landscape shifted dramatically after the NDA alliance’s victory in the 2024 general elections. Many YSRC corporators defected to the TD and JS, with 19 joining the TD and nine aligning with JS. Several independents also affiliated themselves with these parties.

Following this realignment, 58 corporators signed a no-confidence motion against the mayor, setting the stage for Saturday’s special council meeting.

The YSRC attempted to counter the motion by showing in its list corporators who had switched to the TD and JS. Citing Rule 9(d) of the No Confidence in Mayor Rules 2008, YSRC leaders issued a whip to 27 corporators and presented the same to district collector M.N. Harindra Prasad.

With the no-confidence motion having been passed, YSRC leaders have requested the collector to provide the names of those who have voted in favour of and against the no-confidence motion. Once they receive the list, they plan to pursue the case legally.