MP M Sribharat urges people to back alliance’s mayoral candidate
Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat on Thursday appealed to the people to support Dr. Mukka Sravani, the TDP-BJP-Jana Sena alliance’s common mayoral candidate, saying her election would expedite development works and improve civic administration.
Addressing presspersons at the Telugu Desam Party office here, he alleged that the city’s development had suffered a setback during the previous five years of YSRCP rule. He accused the Opposition party of trying to divert public attention from its failures by criticising the coalition government.
Mr. Sribharat said the selection of Dr. Sravani reflected the party’s recognition of dedicated grassroots workers, and her experience as a corporator would help strengthen municipal administration.
Referring to the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, he said the Centre and the State were making coordinated efforts to revive the public sector undertaking. The revival package of about ₹15,000 crore announced by the NDA government reflected its commitment to protecting the interests of the plant and its employees, he said. Steps had also been taken to address employees’ salaries, outstanding dues under the Voluntary Retirement Scheme and long-pending promotions of executives, he added.
The coalition government was giving priority to establishing the South Coast Railway Zone, headquartered in Visakhapatnam, and to works of the Waltair Division, the MP said. He alleged that delays in land allocation by the previous government had hampered key projects.
Works relating to underground drainage, drinking water supply, roads and other civic amenities were being taken up on a priority basis within the limits of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), he said. The government was focusing on attracting IT companies and industrial investment to create jobs for the youth, and measures to strengthen tourism infrastructure and attract reputed hotel chains would add to the city’s economic growth.
Under a slum redevelopment project proposed in Visakhapatnam South, 400 apartments with basic civic amenities would be provided in 17-storey buildings, he said.
Taking exception to the YSRCP’s criticism of the coalition government, Mr. Sribharat sought an explanation from its leadership over the alleged mortgaging of GVMC assets and the controversies surrounding stadiums, hospitals and construction at Rushikonda. The previous government’s decisions on public assets and environmental protection should be open to public scrutiny, he said.
Urging voters not to be swayed by what he termed false propaganda, he said the alliance was committed to transparent administration and development-oriented governance.
Visakhapatnam North MLA P. Vishnu Kumar Raju, Visakhapatnam South MLA Vamsi Krishna Srinivas, MLC Vepada Chiranjeevi Rao, Dr. Sravani, TDP Visakhapatnam parliamentary constituency president Chode Pattabhiram, secretary Lodagala Krishna and other party leaders were present.