No local body polls in Amaravati capital region villages of Andhra Pradesh

Amid the elaborate preparations and hectic political activities across Andhra Pradesh in the run-up to the local body elections, 69 villages falling within the limits of the Amaravati region will have to wait for some more years to participate in the polls as the government is working on a separate governance framework for the mega capital city.

Located in Tadikonda, Pedakurapadu, Guntur East and Guntur West Assembly constituencies, the 69 villages fall within the limits of the proposed Amaravati Outer Ring Road. Of these, farmers from 29 villages have parted with their agricultural land during the first phase of the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS-1), while the exercise is underway in seven villages under the LPS-2. The remaining 33 villages have also been kept out of the upcoming elections.

Apart from the 29 habitations covered under LPS-1, another 40 panchayats are not participating in the elections this time. The habitations covered under LPS-1 also did not go for elections in the previous term too.

In Tadikonda mandal of Tadikonda Assembly constituency, panchayats of Mothadaka, Bandarupalli, Bezathpuram, Garikapadu, Pamulapadu, Mukkamala, Kantheru, Ravela, Ponnekallu, Damarapalli, Tadikonda, Phanidharam, Lacchanna Gudipudi, Lam and Nidumukkala. Varagani, Mandapadu, Visadala, Perecherla and Gundlapalem in Medikonduru mandal are excluded from polls.

In Amaravati mandal, which falls under Pedakurapadu Assembly constituency, the panchayats of Vykuntapuram, Karlapudi, Lemalle, Pedamadduru, Endrayi, Chavapadu, Nemalikallu, Mandepudi, Unguturu, Dharanikota, Lingapuram, Muttayapalem, Narukullapadu and Enikepadu are not going to polls.

Balusupadu, Khambhampadu and Patibandla in Pedakurapadu mandal are also among the panchayats not going to polls. Jonnalagadda in Guntur East Assembly constituency and Chinna Palakaluru in Guntur West Assembly constituency are excluded as well.

Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister Ponguru Narayana said elections in villages where land pooling is under way have been kept pending for the time being, considering issues related to the process.

He said that the government was prioritising the development of farmers' returnable plots, roads and other infrastructure, iconic towers, the Assembly, Andhra Pradesh High Court and government buildings according to stipulated targets.

MA&UD Principal Secretary S. Suresh Kumar said that the government was studying the governance model of leading global capital cities to finalise the most suitable model for Amaravati.

“The aim is to identify the most suitable model for Amaravati, which can be implemented after construction of the capital city is completed. The government intends to develop Amaravati as a world-class capital with a governance framework reflecting that ambition,” he said.